day @ home

what is a girl to do on her day off.... well play of course!!

I had so much fun editing and playing with these pictures. I might be a little biased but...the one of Nathan might just be one of the best pictures ever!!!

Thank you God!

   This past weekend was one that showed us just how amazing God really is. On Saturday night Nathans brothers family was in an accident on their way home from a Christmas celebration. They were driving home on the snowy roads, lost control and hit a cement post totaling their van. The post hit just between the passenger side and Morgans(our niece) car-seat, missing Morgan by inches. Thankfully they all walked away unharmed.  When you hear stories like this it is a wake-up call to remember just how amazing God really is!! We are so thankful that he was watching over them and keeping them safe in a time like this.
  Unfortunately that was not the only wake-up call that we got this weekend. Around 12:30 on Sunday night we were woken up with a phone call from our sister-in-law Mandy. She called Nathan to tell him that his parents barn was on fire and all of the good sows(female pigs) were in that barn. Nathan and I just laid there in shock. We did not know the whole story, but we were hoping and praying that everyone was safe and the pigs were ok. We called his mom to get the whole story and unfortunately the the news was not good.
   As Nathan's dad got home from Mark's house he saw flames in the window of the barn. Risking his life- he ran into the barn to try and get the pigs(whom they had just put in the barn about an hour before that) out. He was able to get to the first pin, get it open and the pig out. As he went back in to get the others he quickly realized it was to dangerous for him to be there and got out- having to the leave the pigs behind.
 After talking to his brother on the phone Nathan was ready to jump in the car and drive home- however, after many prayers and a little discussion we decided that it was safer if we got a few hours of sleep and headed there in the morning. Monday morning as we drove back to his parents to be with our family as they faced emotional times and lots of clean-up
 This experience was devastating to everyone. This was the barn that Nathan, his brother Mark, and his dad had spent many many hours of their life piggin' in. That barn is now used by Mark and his dad for their show pig business. Now I am sure many of you are thinking 'well Erin, its just pigs and an old barn- there are other pigs out there'. Well, its not just pigs. Not for the Taulman family. Its a HUGE part of their life and these animals are part of their family. There were 10 great pigs in that barn and  ALOT of money and time had been spent on each one. It has been really hard trying to understand and comprehend all of this. Lots of tears have been shed and questions asked but thankfully everyone is safe, we have our faith and family to lean on and we know that God has a plan for everything.  

Christmas 2009

God is Good! He is really really good! This year we were blessed in more ways than we could imagine. It was a wonderful Christmas season full of family and love.

This year was the first year that Nathan and I did not travel on Christmas. The usual tradition is to be at my mom and dads house on Christmas Eve for our big party with my family and friends. After everyone is gone we head to mid-night Mass and then to bed to dream of Sugar Plums dancing in our heads while waiting for Santa! Christmas day we get up, open gifts and then make the drive to Nathan's family to spend a few days with them. Well...this year needed to be a little different.  My brother now lives in Chicago and had to work on Christmas Eve and Nathans new store is opening soon and since he has had to work a lot, we decided to move Christmas to our house. I  wasn't so sure about this to start with- but it turned out to be wonderful.

Christmas Eve we went to our Church for an awesome Christmas service with my mom, and Nathans parents. This was really cool and special for us- it would have been a perfect night if only dad, Gavin and Mark, Mandy, Morgan & Marek could have been there too!   All of us in the pew together sigining wonderful Christmas songs and celebrating the reason for the season...the birth of Jesus was a memory I will always cherish. After church Nathan's parents headed home and we went back to our house to spend time with Mom & Gavin. We enjoyed each others company and shared many laughs.

Christmas day we woke up(well- Mom & Gav) woke us up and to our surprise Santa had visited! We enjoyed a morning full of opening stocking stuffed with goodies, eating a yummy breakfast and opening our presents that were under the tree! Santa was very good to all of us!


















After enjoying present time, my moms brothers family and my grandpa drove over to spend the day. We had fun playing games and telling stories. Just as we were sitting down to eat the door bell rang and much to our surprise Nathan's parents made the effort and drive up to see us! It really meant alot to us and we were so thankful they came. We were all able to sit down and enjoy a huge feast together. After dinner and a few more games everyone headed home because the weather started getting bad. We were sad to see them go but SOOO thankful that we were all together.


mom & grandma working on the ham! 

      

Once everyone had left we all enjoy a little R &R time. Gavin put together his new Lego(a tradition since he has been about 3), Nathan tested out his new stuff, and Mom and I watched a Christmas movie! Nathan and I went on a walk and braved the weather so I could test out my new coat too!  We also enjoy a few games of euchre and ate leftovers before heading to bed.

The only thing missing this season was my dad. There is not a day that goes by that I don't miss him, however, the holidays make it even harder. I have so many wonderful memories of our Christmas mornings together as a family and I know how much he would love having all of us together. He had such an amazing faith and I know that he is smiling down on all of us while he celebrates in Heaven. 

Christmas Eve & Nathans game

Last night Nathan had the first two games on his tourney. Lets just say... they were interesting. In the first game of the night we were stuck sitting next to a group of woman that were cheering on their 'boyz' all night long. When they started screaming out the F bomb it got a little much. Then our good friend Mike blew out his knee and when Bridgette(his wife) went out to make sure he was alright the woman continued to yell some not so nice things... Lets just say that its a good thing that Santa was watching. It took all I had not to say anything back!My mother so kindly reminded me that 'they are not worth it Erin!' :) thanks mom!

Between games all the wives(and mom) walked the track with the kiddies while the guys rested. Mike was giving Bridgette a hard time for coming out to check on him... she asked if I would do the same thing. I said 'no- I have seen lots of knee injuries and I know that Nathan would kill me if I did.' Well- open mouth insert foot....

The next game got ugly and a BIG FAT JERK gave Nathan a cheap shot to the chest and he went down...and didn't get up. When Mom stood up and said 'Erin this isn't good' and I saw Nathans face lose all color.. I went running out!!! He was not breathing and it was scary. After about a minute on him on the ground and his eyes rolling back in his head I was ready to beat the crap out of that guy! He finally got up and didn't look so good. Lets just say I was ready to take my husband home, cuddle up with him and not let him play again! (I know he would be shaking his head saying- Oh Erin, he if was reading this!) He rested for a bit and finished the game with a 32 point victory over the BIG FAT JERKS!  sure glad that night is over!
Here a few pics from the night! 

my stud!















look @ that perfect form...makes me sick!!! :)

Nathan & Mike....one bummed knee and one bummed lung!
 

look @ those big brown eyes!!! they will melt your heart!

such a beautiful little girl... I am sure Santa will be good to her!
I bet this was a great story time!

Today is Christmas Eve and I am so excited. My brother is on his way over and later in the day mom's family will be headed this way too. I wish everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE! Don't forget to put out the cookies out for Santa! May God Bless you with a day full of family and love.

mom's here!

My mom has been here since Sunday and it has been soooo much fun! I really wish that we lived closer...maybe someday! On Monday we went shopping with my good friend Vicky and enjoyed finishing up all of the names on my Christmas list. Not to worry we stopped @ Starbucks- TWICE, my mom really should buy stock. Yesterday we wrapped all of the gifts and then went grocery shopping for Christmas Eve and Day. I CAN'T WAIT!!! I get soo excited wrapping the gifts- I just can't wait for everyone to open them. I tried to talk Nathan into opening one last night but he said we better wait. :(
 Today we had planned on heading to up to the city to visit our cousins however, the weather up here decided we better stay home. What we were hoping would be snow...came down as ice! YUCK! So instead we finished up our grocery list, came home and relaxed.  Mom baked some yummy cookies too!
 Nathan is now home and we are getting ready to go to his basketball games tonight. I am going to take my camera so I can finally get some good action shots of my basketball stud.
 I really can't believe that tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Gavin, along with my mom's brothers family are heading over from Batavia tomorrow so I am praying that the weather will warm up a little and let the ice melt to make their trip a little safer.

side note: I have the post started from the Taulman family Christmas but wanted to post a few more pictures and I am on the wrong computer so it will have to wait!
 

Here comes Santa!

ok...this is about the 10th time I have sat down to try and write this so hopefully I can get it finished this time!

What a weekend we had here @ the Taulman house.

The weekend started on Friday night with our Small Group party. We headed over to our friends Mike and Bridgette's with our Dirty Santa gift and food for the feast! Bridgette is a WONDERFUL host(I think she should be a party planner) and decided that we would have a pasta bar- each of us brought something different for the pasta that she had made. It was a GREAT idea(one I will steal for sure)- we had yummy sauces, veggies and delicious meatballs along with LOTs of homemade delicious desserts.

Vickys HOMEMADE(we almost fell over when we found out she didn't buy it from Jewel!!) dessert!

Hilary's HOMEMADE chocolate silk pie! (this just makes we want to take a HUGE bit out of it! Everything was VERY yummy....even the host got a chance to enjoy a bite!

After our meal we started the dirty Santa game. Here are the rules...bring something from your house that you have no use for or do not want!!! for example: Last year there was a left-over frozen cake and a bread machine that was so out of date when the 'help line' was called it was a sex line! haha

 This year was full of great gifts too. Each of the gifts had some funny meaning to our group which made it even better. Vicky was the first to go and she got 'left-overs from Jonas'....

this gift consisted of his glasses, a shirt that his students made of him, an old white stained t-shirt, and work pants! IT WAS GREAT

Nathan got baby formula, a pacifier and a used baby toy!  too funny.

The scariest gift of the night was this life size doll that Hilary opened! Mike used it to scary Vicky later in the night!

Overall, the night was full of very fun memories, lots of great friends and many good laughs! I am so thankful for our small group- God has really blessed us by putting each of them into our lives.













Miss Hadleigh was a great baby and entertained us throughout the night too!! (I just love those cheeks!)


Saturday was a perfect day for lounging at home. Nathan was off all day so we stayed at home, watched the snow fall, wrapped Christmas gifts while we listened to Christmas music, then blew up the air mattress that night and watched(well, Nathan watched and I feel asleep) the Saints game.

Sunday we headed to Nathans parents house for the first of our Christmas celebrations! That post will come tomorrow but here are a few pictures from the day...

We just love our niece and nephew to pieces.... Morgan had her hair all curly and looked so stinkin cute and Marek was in his little vest that was just as cute as can be. We opened gifts, ate food, made gingerbread houses, played with dolls and legos and enjoyed spending the day with family
 I will post all of the fun details tomorrow! I can't wait to finally be able to tell what we got out sister-in-law! Overall,the day was truly a gift from God!

its begining to feel alot

like Christmas!!!! Finally, I woke up yesterday morning with the feeling of YIPPEPEEE Christmas is almost here!!!!  I turned on the Christmas music as I got ready and really got into the spirit. The kids at school are so ready for Santa they can't hardly stand it. They are so stinkin cute coming to school all dressed up for their Christmas programs. I just love seeing the little girls in their white tights and hair bows and the little boys in their sweater vests and button down shirts. Hopefully someday we will be blessed with the opportunity to enjoy our kids Christmas parties!!
  I am started to feel like I am almost ready for the festivities to begin. This week has been a busy one, I got alot accomplished but it really flew by- I  had shopping to get done, pictures to edit, gifts to wrap, a basketball game of Nathan's to attend, Secret Santa @ school to enjoy and a crazy busy husband to help.
 Nathan is opening a new store on January 4th(don't even ask why... it makes me mad they waited until Christmas to open this store). He gets up around 5 and heads out the door and returns to our little house around 7 or 8pm. He is such a positive person through all of it too!! I just don't know how he does it. He has been working so very hard and I am so proud of him!! He really is the best.
 Tomorrow night we have our small group Christmas Party and I CAN"T WAIT!!! We have lots of yummy food and have a 'white elephant' gift exchange. I can't tell what we are bringing BUT I can tell you that they are pretty darn funny. I will be sure to post lots of pictures AND give you all most of the details!

Home Alone...the movie

This might be one of my favorite 'sort-of' Christmas movies- my family was almost always running on the late side and seeming to forget something on the way out the door. I was the girl that was about 10 minutes late EVERYDAY to school and got the nickname of Rooster because of it. I was that girl who's parents were always running about 10 minutes late to pick me up from practice, so I started telling them it ended 15 earlier then it did! I was the girl who has a mother that thought(thinks) that when it says party starts @ 5:00 she leaves the house @ 4:59. You get the point. Well...luckily I married Nathan who's motto growing up was....
To be early is to be on time,
To be on time is to be late and
To be late is to be forgotten!

When we first started dating and I learned of this crazy motto- I tried VERY hard to be early. Then we got married and I tried VERY hard to be on time. Well, now... I just friggin try and get there! haha
However, I must say that MUCH to his disliking I think my tardiness is wearing off on him!!!

This weekend we were to be at a friend of his wedding at 3:00(at least that is what time WE thought we needed to be there). To make a long story short we realized at 12:30 that we needed to be there @ 2:00- not 3, it was an hour and 20 minutes away AND neither of us were ready let alone had even showered!!
 This house was like Home Alone! I jumped in the shower, found something to wear only to have the button pop on on my shirt, couldn't find my purse, took my make-up to put on in the car, and forgot the address to the church on the counter! Nathan drove (I closed my eyes so I had no idea how fast he was going in case we got stopped by the cops and he asked) and we made it to the wedding @ 2:04. Only to walk in to the bride getting ready to walk down the aisle. She insisted that we go....so as they opened the doors and everyone expected to see the bride to their surprise it was THE TAULMANS!!!  talk about embarrassing! Ok so after Saturday we talked about REALLY trying to be 'on time' the rest of the week.

 Crap.... that didn't happen either! We were late for church on Sunday and today we woke up @ 7:15 when I am supposed to be at school @ 7:40. Nathan said...'well you better hustle', as I was jumping out of bed.  I got in the shower and all I could do was laugh. I really couldn't believe it. All I can say is thank goodness I am a PE teacher! I threw on an Adidas sweat outfit and a pulled my hair into a ponytail and ran out the door. I made it @ 7:42. Not bad considering I got stopped at all 6 stoplights on the drive there!

 I think I need to ask Santa for a new alarm clock!

kids say....

the funniest things!!!

 This week the kids have been great! You can tell that break is almost here. They have been so excited and very talkative(sometimes a little too much!) Here are what some of my conversations have been like at school this week(and its only Wednesday). 

1. 
Student: Mrs. Taulman, how old are you?
Me: How old do you think I am?
S: um...like 40 or something.
Student2: 40....haha that is funny. Mrs. Taulman is old!
Me: 40?! WOW. No, I am 20 something.
S1: My mom is younger then you!

2.
 Student:  (pointing to his throat) Mrs. Taulman, its REALLY REALLY dry right here.
Me: Really?  That sounds bad.
Student: Yeah it is....if my heart does not get water- I might die.
Me: What! Oh no.
Student: Yeah- it has happened before!!
Me: Well you better run to get some water...quick!

3. 
 Student: Mrs. Taulman my tooth is loose.
Me: It is? Want me to get my pliers to pull it out. :)
Student: NO! I was wiggling it while I was asleep last night.
Me: How did you do that?
Student: I don't know but last time I lost my tooth I got five dollars.

4. 
 Student:  Mrs. Taulman, I can't run or exercise today.
Me: Why? Whats wrong with you?
Student: I got a paper cut today.

and Nathan wonders why I act like I do!!!



  

oh the weather outside

is frightful.....

but the fire is so delightful!

and since we have no place to go.....

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!!

 

Today was our first snow here in Indiana! We didn't get too much, however, it made the drive to work a little slower. After school Nathan picked me up and we drove to a town south of here to cut down our Christmas tree!! Poor Nathan- I felt pretty bad for him when he had to park his 'car' next to all of these big trucks. I could just see the 'man, I wish I had a big truck' look in his eyes. Its probably like when I see a tall thin woman walk down the street I get those ' man, I wish I had exercised and had not eaten that bag of m&m's' look! After the 'car vs. truck' moment we headed out to find our perfect tree!
 After evaluating a few tree- we found the one calling our name! As Nathan used his trusty saw to bring the tree down, I sang the tradition O' Christmas Tree song.  Once we got it all wrapped, we loaded it up and headed home! We have spent the evening putting the lights and ornaments up. Such wonderful memories!

We think our tree is perfect and can't wait until Santa visits! Hopefully he brings a few beautiful packages to put under the tree for the great guy that lives in this house.

Enjoy the snow!