We are here.

The blog has been a little quiet. I didn't really plan the break, but, really, it's been good for me to tend to my list of other, more deadline-oriented writing and enjoy the people around me. I'm a funny mix of wanting to take care of tasks but valuing my relationships. My natural instinct is to be task-oriented but I don't know where I'd be without my people.

We celebrated my niece's 3rd birthday in Highland, Illinois, last weekend with a quick day-long road trip that included a fun children's museum, some down time with family, and a delicious pizza dinner. {Ben didn't get burned this year.} That picture above is all of the Taylor cousins: Kieran (almost 2), Elijah (9), Mae (3), Ben (3 1/2), Evelyn (4), Ethne (7 1/2), Charlie (6 weeks), Cate (6).

Cate's been at basketball camp {no really loose teeth right now; she did just lose her sixth one!} and we've been to the pool and will likely make it a time or two more before this week is over. I'm almost done reading "Love Does" by Bob Goff and we're nearing the end of the first season of Mad Men on Netflix. I'm surprised by how much I like it.

Here is a dose of reality from around here: I forgot to feed Cate breakfast on Monday morning before she went to basketball camp. Here, let me defend myself. I had a breakfast meeting with a friend I was dragging Ben to, so I knew we didn't need to eat before camp. Cate slept later and got ready for camp as soon as she woke up and, well, once I helped her tie her shoes, I assumed my duty was done for the getting-ready routine.

And then I finally showered for the day about 30 minutes before friends came over tonight for dinner. I didn't even dry my hair because the baked spaghetti was ready to come out of the oven, sounding the alarm on my personal care time. Catching up with my friend while our kids built a fort with every blanket we own was good for my soul.

It's been imperfectly busy around here, but I'm actually not feeling stressed. I hope that peace that certainly passes my understanding continues because my calendar seems full and my list of projects to get done seems long. But I've got these two kids who are embracing summer just like I hoped they would and I've got a husband who works hard so I can be a work-at-home mom and then is present and involved when he comes home.

So we are here. Living.
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And while I'm here, let me tell you about some deals ...

This lovely "Chosen" necklace is only $9.99 {that's $7 less than usual} at DaySpring.

You can buy two journals/notebooks from DaySpring and get a third free. I've loved all the notebook I've used from there. Just add the three products to your cart and you'll receive the lowest-priced item for free.

Max Lucado cards also are on sale at DaySpring. You'll find good deals on meaningful cards.


Elsewhere ...

"Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing" by Sally Lloyd-Jones is just $1.99 for your Kindle {also well worth the $12.23 for a hardback copy}. This is a devotional that is a lovely supplement to beautiful "The Jesus Storybook Bible," which is just $2.99 {Kindle} or $9.93 {hardback}.

Crocs are on sale -- up to 60% off -- at zulily from Thursday through Saturday. Definitely a deal worth checking out if your kids are like mine about shoes, wanting to get them on quick, getting them dirty quickly, and outgrowing them in a flash.

Now that summer is in full swing around here, I'm realizing I didn't share one of my all-time favorite summer products that I manage to use year around: Banana Boat's Aloe After-Sun Lotion. Yes, four 16-ounce bottles seems like more than you'll need, but if you like the preserve the scents of summer, you won't mind having extra on hand. I discovered small bottles at Big Lots recently so now I carry the lotion in my purse.
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What are you reading and watching? Where have you seen good deals? What have you been doing?

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{Road trip} The Numbers

 In the first 32 hours of our trip, I asked my kids to ride five hours then sleep in a hotel before riding six more hour to watch basketball for 5 1/2 hours one evening.

668 miles from our house in Murray, Ky., to Charleston, S.C. The party of eight included my family of four, my mom, my mother-in-law, and my aunt and uncle. Together we rooted for two teams -- Murray State and St. John's -- who played each other once.

And this was our second trip there in five months.

Two trips to the Charleston City Market. Several Christmas present purchased.

Two delicious seafood meals -- one at Hyman's Seafood and the other at Charleston Crab House, both of which have UH-MA-ZING hush puppies.

 Two victories for Murray State and one loss for a second-place finish in the Charleston Classic.

One night in a hotel, three nights in a vacation rental house and one night at my aunt and uncle's house on a lake.

Zero days of sunshine.

 One day spent at Lake Murray, S.C., where my aunt and uncle live. One boat ride included.
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More photos are posted on Facebook. You can read all my Charleston-inspired posts here. Want more? Subscribe to get "Insights" in your inbox. Or follow me on Twitter or Instagram.

{Road trip} Melting down

Post melt down, sleep came.

I held him as huge tears rolled down his cheeks. He took a breath in a coughed up all the snot that had multiplied. He swung his arms in frustration and muttered dramatic words about Daddy leaving without giving him a kiss.

We were at a basketball game that was getting ready to start well past his usual 7 p.m. bedtime that he created for himself when he was tiny. Daddy had just left for the bathroom; I had no doubt he'd be back.

But when you're tired, the little problems seem like natural disasters. I know about this because even at 33 years old this still happens to me. I knew my {nearly} 3-year-old boy was exhausted from five days with little napping and vacation fun that kept him up late.

So I held his hands, even though he yelled, "You're hurting me!" I was thankful to be surrounded by people who knew I wasn't hurting him. I firmly, yet gently held him close. I reminded him Daddy was coming.

And I didn't let go.

My uncle was sitting next to me and didn't speak until my boy had stopped crying: "A lesser woman would have given up." By this time, Daddy had returned and now held a calm, almost asleep boy.

I handled this one. I didn't give up. Not this time. 

But there have been other meltdowns that I responded to with overreacting emotions. I've yelled when I should have soothed. I've ignored when I should have embraced. I've said yes when I should have said no and no when I should have said yes. I gave in when I should have remained stubborn.

Motherhood is my classroom. I've learned much here and I have so much more to figure out. Some days are hard, even {especially?} when you're on vacation to watch your favorite college team play in a tournament in a city you love.

But I've learned days are going to be hard at home and on the road so I might as well embrace the adventure to experience places and moments with my family. I do have to remind myself that means bedtime will come later than usual and nap times could get lost. Even so, wherever we are and however everybody is feeling, I'm not giving up. On them. Or on me. Or on this adventure called life.
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Time out for a road trip

In the midst of a busy weekend that followed a busy week, our family of four headed on a short road trip to Clarksville, Tenn., where Murray State was playing football on Saturday night. It's just more than an hour from our house and it's home to Blackhorse Brewery, an all-time favorite restaurant of mine. Plus, the timing made it a good escape before another busy-with-good-things week.

So, we ate a delicious dinner, waited out the sprinkling rain, realized we needed cash to buy game tickets, returned with our layers and blankets to watch the game. The Murray State-Austin Peay rivalry in football isn't nearly as hyped as basketball, but it was still a fun night. And, well, there was beer cheese and delicious pizza unfortunately named Rocky Top beforehand. 

And, hey, as always, the kids were entertaining ... 

Cate quickly found a friend of hers and spent the majority of the game playing with some girls. When I saw her friend's mom walk back from the concession stand with hot chocolate, I was certain Cate would be requesting some soon after. So as soon as she started up the steps toward us, I nudged Greg and said, "Here she comes to ask for hot chocolate." And I was ready to get her some. But she didn't actually ask. Instead she said, "Mom, can I get my nails painted?"

Yes, at a football game. A friend of her friend had nail polish.

For the record, she got hot chocolate later and proceeded to accidentally spill some of it. But she had lovely nails.

Ben just wanted some popcorn. Until he heard my crinkle of the package of peanut M&Ms I had in my sweatshirt pocket. Then he needed a few of those too.

The rain held off most of the game, but I'm pretty sure Ben was happy when the drops started falling because that meant he got to hold the umbrella. When he wasn't using it as a weapon or bouncing it to the beat of the opposing marching band, he really was pretty good with it.

Oh, and, yes, the Racers won 52-14. And clearly we had an entertaining time.
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{St. Louis} That's a winner!

We have these good friends who have been in our lives for 14 years. Much can happen in 14 years, and I'm so thankful our friendships have endured and evolved while life was happening. I'm grateful we share college experiences yet became even closer after college.

In five of the more recent of those years, we've had five kids in five years between us. Luke was born in April 2006, Cate in May 2007, Norah in April 2008, Ben in November 2009, and Caroline in August 2010. And let me tell you, those kids love each other with a love that's different from other friends and they argue like only siblings usually do.

And, seriously, I wouldn't have it any other way because these friendships -- both among the adults and the kids -- are some of the sweetest parts of our life. We know each other's dreams, weaknesses, schedules and plans. We hope and pray and dream and play games and eat together. We are in this life together.

Each couple in this group that has become nine celebrated 10 years of marriage this year. We have our own stories, but, thankfully, our stories include each other. So once the weather cooled off and my husband's business slowed down {ever so slightly ...}, we left the five kids in five years at home with their respective grandparents and spent two nights in a hotel, two and half days eating and talking and shopping and watching baseball and playing Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride and reminiscing and making new memories.

And, really, I'm so very glad we did.

They were all leery of my recommendation to go to a farmer's market on Saturday morning, but they will all three tell you they loved it. {And, really, it wasn't even my recommendation. It came online from someone who used to live in St. Louis.}

I loved the colors and the organization.

Seriously, where else do you eat these delicious mini doughnuts {I can't bring myself to spell d-o-n-u-t-s ...}

... and then follow with a meat kabob?

And, honestly, I didn't know why Greg was so excited about the doughnuts. But then I ate some, like at least half of the dozen he bought, and I contemplated getting more. But, of course, there were other meals to be had and I had to save myself ...

Yep. Authentic Italian. Totally worth saving myself for that seafood ravioli in a white cream sauce.

We took photos while we waited for brunch at The Boathouse. You know, waiting at a restaurant is totally different when there aren't antsy kids around. And, hey, let me tell you, this meal was totally worth the wait. {Truthfully, to The Boathouse's defense, we only had to wait before the restaurant didn't hope until 10 a.m. on Sunday, and we didn't do that much research. It was a go-with-flow weekend with little research. Although I'm certainly glad I asked a stranger online what she'd recommend doing. Yep, Kelli at MiniVansAreHot.com recommended this one too!}

Hello, banana cream cheese stuffed French toast. So, so delicious.

We shopped and played games, but, really, that's so all that picture worthy. And we snacked some more. Then we wrapped up the weekend with a Cardinals baseball game. It was perfect weather to be outside and the game itself was entertaining.

That's a winner indeed. And it helped secure the wild card spot. Really, the whole weekend was a winner. {And, hey, my kids loved having Gran-Gran to themselves for the weekend.}

I'm hoping this kind of weekend happens again. Until then, we'll be found playing games and eating dinner while our kids love and argue in the same breath with people they've known their whole little lives. We'll be meeting at the park and talking before church starts. We'll be texting. We'll be living our lives, thankful for all the ways they intersect like they have and continue to do.
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Celebrating together

Road trip! We went to Highland, Ill., which is about three hours from our house, to celebrate our niece's second birthday. Happy 2nd birthday, Mae Rose! We had a fun day on the road, at the birthday party, hanging out, watching a parade, and eating dinner before we headed home.

My husband led the charge to make up this game that involved hitting a ball with plastic bowling pins. 

I lost count of how many times Ben told Mae "Happy birthday!" But doesn't he look sweet doing so?

These two are mischievous, so there is no telling what they're planning. Only seven months apart, Ben and Evelyn are buddies ... and super sweet together when they want to be!

These two always have something to say and like to sit next to each other at any family function. Cousins make good friends, and I'm thankful my kids' relationships with these cousins and the other side.

Highland may rival Murray as a town that loves parades. This was part of some festival honoring the town's Swiss heritage. The parade was about an hour long and my kids have bags full {literally!} of Tootsie Rolls and other candy to prove it. And this isn't the first time we've been to a parade in Highland.

Elvis was there! Actually, that's my brother-in-law promoting a local play. Good stuff, huh?

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And they're off ...

I have memories in a grassy area next to the Keeneland grandstand. Or as my mom told my husband on Saturday, "Kristin grew up next to the that tree," pointing to the grassy area nearby. I have memories at Louisville Downs and Churchill Downs too.

One of the most vivid is climbing over and under the bars of the general admission boxes at Louisville Downs, a now-defunct harness racing track, while my brother, sister and I would collect losing tickets. Yeah, looking back, I have no idea why.

But horse racing is part of my Kentucky-born-and-bred childhood. One of my first best friends loved horses, was destined to be a vet, and continues to follow horse racing even though she moved to the West Coast a decade and a half ago. I was born two days before Spectacular Bid won the Kentucky Derby. I cleaned up after the Oaks and Derby {those are two consecutive big race days, for you non-Kentucky folks} to earn some service hours for my high school Beta Club. Best moment of that weekend in 1997 was watching my friend Dustin sell hats made from newspapers to drunk people for $1 each. Oh, and I met Mitchell Anderson and Jerry O'Connell  and saw Melissa Joan Hart trip up some stairs at the 2002 Kentucky Derby, where I covered parts of the day that had nothing to do with horses when I worked at The Associated Press.

I watch about two minutes of horse racing a year and that happens on the first Saturday of May. I might watch two other races in May and June if there is a Triple Crown threat.

But I like going to race tracks occasionally. And turns out I married a guy who wrote a book about horse racing for an elementary school project and can dominate any trivia quiz involving Derby winners.

I'm sure those trees where I grew up grew up themselves in the years that have past since I last was at Keeneland. My brother-in-law {who does follow horse racing} organized a family trip to Keeneland on the day of the Bluegrass Stakes. That's what prompted our road trip this past weekend that included other adventures.

Horses are entertaining for people of all ages. My kids like animals, whether they are in a zoo or running around a track. In fact, they even like statues of extinct animals. My kids aren't the only ones who cheered for the "Racers" racin' around the track. We were part of the largest crowd {40,600, give or take ...} in Keeneland history.

And, yes, Ben made the Racers connection and chanted the R-A-C-E-R-S cheer, complete with some bom-ba-bas that are supposed to sound like the pep band. He certainly had the right idea, even if he always starts it T-R- ... who knows what he's actually spelling. Even so, back to racing ...

My mom and husband discuss wagering. Math whizzes they are.

Napping on Gran-Gran ...

Brothers. The one in the Cardinals jersey organized the trip.

The day wouldn't have been complete without this ...

Dullahan beats Hansen in the Bluegrass Stakes.

What about you? What do you think of watching beautiful animals race around a track? Have you even been to Kentucky? If not, Keeneland is a good place to start.

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You can see more pictures in my Facebook album from the weekend. Want more? Subscribe to get "Insights" in your inbox. Or follow me on Twitter.

969.42 miles and counting ...

It's been a busy week.

The kids and I went shopping in Paducah {47.1 miles one way} on Monday for some wall art for the lake house. We were successful and had a good time. And I discovered the spicy chicken sandwich {with pepper jack cheese!} at Chick-fil-A. I can't believe I've been missing out on this. We ended up solving our grill problems at the lake house that night {14.1 miles each way}, Cate befriended the neighbor there, and some evening fishing happened.

She fishes with some sass.

Ben wanted to fish kiss this fish.

Tuesday was just busyness here. I worked at Greg's office like I do once a week. Cate at t-ball practice. And then we took Cate to the Murray State Basketball Banquet. I've never been before, but this was a good year to try something new in support of this team. I'm glad we went, although had I known we'd get to interact with some of our favorite players last week at Cate's school, we may not have gone. Either way, listening to coaches, players and Neal Bradley, the awesome radio voice of the Racers, recap the season made me want it to happen all over again. Right now.

She drew circles around Donte while writing on the program.

Wednesday we took a road trip with Courtney and her kids to the Nashville Zoo {122 miles away}. Us two moms shared two meals together with our four kids, saw lots of animals, handed out 15 snacks {no exaggeration}, supervised bathroom stops that never seemed to be in sync with one other, laughed often, and heard few complaints and tears from our kids.

We got to be up close and personal to some animals.

The bamboo makes for a nice photo backdrop.

We watched the flamingos for quite some time ...

... and then Cate pretended to be a flamingo!

"My turn. Flamingo too," says Child #2.

Today I've been in town again. We went out to the lake house to be there while the guy to install the Internet service and then we met Sarah, Davey and Atticus at Pagliai's so we could catch up while the kids played on the indoor playset. Really, there should be more restaurants like this. Later, I'm going back to the lake house to meet the cleaning lady.

Tomorrow we're going back on the road to check out Dinosaur World in Cave City, Ky. {155.1 miles away}, for cousin Evelyn's birthday. Then we'll continue northeast to the Lexington area {123.8 miles} where we'll spend two nights for a day at Keeneland with family and more time with friends.

We'll come home {267.7 miles from my dearest friend's house, where we're staying} Sunday and this week's miles will total more than 969.42 with the driving around town here where I live, there where I shopped, there were we detoured in Nashville because we missed our exit somehow, there where we'll visit people we love and watch horses. This is life. Not every week is like this. But life is good. And I'm grateful for the journey.

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{Racers} Game Two

Notice my UK shirt poking out from underneath ...

Our third-round tickets got us in to see our two favorite teams play in the NCAA Tournament, so all day I wore my UK shirt under my Murray State shirt. The plan was to take off the Racers shirt for the second game of the night. 

But Marquette beat my Racers 62-53 after I really thought my team was going to win. And I just couldn't take off my game-one shirt. 

I was sad. I was proud. 

Coach Prohm has led this team in his first year as a head coach in a way that makes me proud. As a parent, I love the way he encourages the players to be men with humble, generous character. As a fan, I appreciate the way he represents our town. As a person, I'm inspired. My heart was glad when I read he's staying in Murray.

And then there are the three seniors. They've won more games {104} than any other basketball class to come through tradition-rich Murray State. Donte Poole. Jewuan Long. Ivan Aska. You three will be missed but remembered. And we'll be glad to hear about the great things you do when you leave this place. And one of you helped my girl fall in love with basketball.

Junior Ed Daniel played the best game I'd seen from him. He was tough and big and steady and focused. Even with Big East Player of the Year Jae Crowder crowding the lane. And, folks, he's coming back. Hopefully star Isaiah Canaan will too. 

Big Blue Nation -- awaiting the #1 Wildcats -- hoped on the Racers' bandwagon for awhile. I've seriously never heard so many people cheer for Murray State. Maybe those Kentucky fans just remember too much about Dwayne Wade. Maybe they appreciated the talent from a fellow Bluegrass school. Whatever the motivation, UofL's home was rockin' for the Racers. 

Admittedly, I even briefly contemplated how to make a trip to Phoenix work. I thought my Racers were going to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time. 

So when they didn't win and Marquette went on a game-clinching run, I couldn't take off my MSU shirt. I couldn't trade the navy blue for the royal blue. Not yet. I wasn't ready. 

Meanwhile, my favorite Wildcat -- Darius Miller -- was playing a fabulous game. And my least favorite -- Marquis Teague -- was showing me why Coach Calipari recruited him and starting to win me over. I saw famous super fan Ashley Judd across the floor behind the UK bench. And I decided to take pictures. 

I grew up a Big Blue fan. I can list favorite Cats. I went on a crazy, quick road trip to Houston last year because I thought those Cats could win it all. I'm a UK fan. 

Yet my alma mater stole my heart. 

 

We have season tickets and I put the games on my calendar when the schedule is released. My friends know our social lives in the fall and winter revolve around the basketball games. It's been this way for years. This year started out no different.

But no basketball team ever has captured my heart like the 2011-12 Racers. So I wore my Murray State shirt the rest of the night. Even while I cheered for the Cats with the little energy I had left.

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There are pictures from the three tournaments games we watched here. And my earlier blog post is here. Want more? Subscribe to get "Insights" in your inbox. Or follow me on Twitter.

{Racers} Game One

Photo by Jeff Moreland

To say I was excited when Murray State was put in the Louisville site for the second and third rounds of the NCAA is an understatement. I told some people I was so, so excited and stinkin' excited. Those phrases don't even do it justice.

So, yes, we watched sixth-seeded Murray State beat Colorado State, an 11 seed, 58-41 earlier today. It was the first game of the real tournament (not counting those play-in games) and it was the first time the Racers have ever been the higher-seeded team.

That's just how this season has been. Full of firsts. Perhaps there will been thoroughly compiled list later.

But for now I'll just say the Racers (31-1) gutted out a win in an ugly game that included a disjointed offense but a respectable defense. And champions find ways to win.

And when your team wins, it keeps playing. That's what I told my 4-year-old girl who rooted on the Racers with us today. (My 2-year-old boy spent the day with Grandmom. See? Another perk of being in my hometown Louisville.)

Oh, and I'm a born and bred Kentucky fan. Being in the Yum! Center was an experience, especially since I didn't have to watch the Cardinals. My ticket Saturday will get me into see two games. Murray State will play Marquette. And Kentucky will be there too. Perhaps we can get Big Blue Nation to cheer for the navy blue team.

Just for 40 minutes.

Perhaps.

I know for whom I'll be cheering. Like you see us doing in the photo above, pump your arms in the air and say, "R-A-C-E-R-S! Racers! Racers! Go Racers!"

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(And much thanks to photographer Jeff Moreland for waving to me from the court and then later catching us in action. We worked together at the Richmond Register, where I was a reporter from 2002-03.) Want more? Subscribe to get "Insights" in your inbox. Or follow me on Twitter.