The Taylor Family: January 2011

A Man to Remember

My grandfather, Pépère, suffered a stroke just before Thanksgiving last year. Up to that point he was perfectly fine, well about as fine as an 87 year old can be. He had minor issues with his knee and blood sugars and such but he lived a normal life with my grandmother in their condo in Jacksonville. After his stroke his health went downhill fast.

Mentaly he was suffering, he couldn't remember people's names and he thought things that happened 10-20 years ago were going on today. His kidneys stopped functioning properly and a growth was found on his liver. Because of his age and his mental state my aunts and uncles (my grandparents had 7 children) decided not to test the growth because no treatment would be preformed. At this point Pépère wouldn't understand and it would only be torture to him. We didn't have any clue what the time frame was that we were looking at but we knew things weren't going to get better. Just a few weeks ago my sister, Janell, and I with our husbands went up to Jacksonville to see Pépère in the treatment center he was in. He had moments of clarity but also many moments where we didn't know what he was talking about. At the time, I was hoping that it wouldn't be the last time I saw him but I also knew that it probably would be. It was hard hugging him goodbye that one last time especially since we weren't leaving him at home but rather in the treatment center. This evening I got a call from my

dad who told me that Pépère had passed away this afternoon. Even though it was half expected it still shocked me and made me really sad. Thankfully it was during Life Group so everyone stopped what we were doing and took turns praying for my family during this time. I was in tears but everyone's prayers helped bring me peace. I praise God that Pépère's suffering is over, he is no longer in physical pain and he is no longer confused, disoriented or depressed. I have a lot of fond memories of Pépère, it was obvious that he enjoyed his grandchildren and when we had children of our own he enjoyed his great grandchildren. I remember going up when Abbi was just barely walking, Pépère had a great time just walking around the lake and letting the girls feed the ducks cheerios. He would have been happy if we had stayed there all day just so he could enjoy them. Pépère was a great man, kind hearted, cheerful, and full of life. He will most definitely be missed by many. God rest his soul.

Out with the Old in with the New

Back in October the Sanford Police Department moved to a new building. Our old building was built back in the early 70's and we were all cramped in there like sardines and a lot of units had to work out of the substations because of it. One of the major problems with the building was the lack of space for the growing amounts of evidence. All my stuff is high liability and has to be strictly secured and we were running out of space to put it all. During the years additional buildings had been added to the main building, things like a trailer for Street Crimes and Narcotics Unit, an out door shed for my bikes and large evidence, and the bay was converted to an office for Crime Scene and my bulk evidence storage. When I started at SPD there was talk of a new

building but I guess the talk was old because every one had little faith they would see a new building in their life time. I listened to the wishfulness but didn't think much of it, I just dealt with what I had. After a couple years plans were drawn up for the new building. There were meetings weekly and eventually even site tours of the progress. It was hard not to get excited about all the space and cleanliness the new building would bring. It only took about 18 months to finish the building once it had been started and then we had to move everything. For all the departments movers were hired, except for my stuff of course. Because of the sensitivity of my property I couldn't allow just anyone to handle it. I was in charge of transporting all my stuff to the new building. I secured the high risk items (guns, drugs, money, jewelry, etc) before I left and then with the help of some of the investigators I received it on the other end completely intact and preserved. The bulk evidence wasn't as sensitive but I still had to draw up an inventory of each item that was to leave the old building and then I checked it off as it was received. It was an extremely tedious and time consuming task but in the

end everything was accounted for. It has taken about this long to get everything organized and put exactly where I want it but now I am at the point where I am actually happy with how everything is set up. I am still getting use to having my evidence and folders at my fingertips, for the last 3 years I had to literally leave my office and building, walk across the parking lot and through the CST's office to get to any of my (non high risk) evidence or folders. The first picture is the old SPD building, I couldn't find a good shot so I took this one from Google Maps. The second picture is our new building; it shows you the front of the building but my office is located on the exact opposite corner, upstairs.

All Clear

Our friends, Vandita and Anupam, had planned to fly over from Tampa yesterday but the wind was so strong they decided against it. We rescheduled for today and after the second service at church Peter and I drove over to the Deland Municipal Airport to see them. We picked them up in the van and drove right down the road to a restaurant where we enjoyed some lunch outside and watched sky divers landing. It was pretty cool. After we finished eating Anupam asked Peter if he wanted to go up. I knew Peter would want to, he is just fascinated with flying and

he always gets so excited when he has a dream about it. He has expressed his interest to take lessons some day to me numerous times. We went back to the airplane and Anupam said I could go too but I figured I would let Peter enjoy a private lesson all to himself because he would definitely get more out of it. Vandita and I stayed on the ground with the kids and we watched as they taxied out to the runway and then took off. The kids played happily on the helicopter pads (they are level with the ground) and Vandita and I got to catch up a bit. When Peter came back he told me they flew to Crescent Lake and Lake George which is about 35-40 miles north of where we were.

At one point Peter got to take over the controls. He was really excited about that and he said he didn't do too bad. Vandita and Anupam had to head out to get back to Tampa before it was dark so we had to say goodbye. Next time they fly out they will have to come for a day trip so we can spend more time together.

Bresa's Science Project

Fill an empty bottle with 4 oz of water.

Add 4 oz of Rubbing alcohol.

Squeeze in two drops of red food coloring.

Insert clear straw so it doesn't touch the bottom of the bottle.
Close top of straw and bottle top with modeling clay.

Label here and there.

Wallah, you have your very own homemade thermometer!

Happy Birthday Javan

Yesterday was actually Javan's Birthday but we were busy all day so we didn't get to celebrate with friends and family until today. Peter and I had talked about and it and we weren't going to do anything outside of a small immediate family celebration but after talking to my friends Thursday night it was clear there were other people who wanted to celebrate. They all remembered getting the Thursday night call 2 years ago and hearing "It's a boy!"

Hard to believe it was two years ago that they each took turns bringing our family dinner for a whole month as we got settled into our new family of five. I arranged for a small gathering tonight to celebrate our little man who is growing up way too fast. After church I went to Rena's Bridal Shower so Peter and I decided we would do a hot dog dinner for everyone and Brenda offered to make Javan's cake. It was a nice simple gathering and although I asked that no one bring presents Javan ended up with a lot of toys.

I think his favorite toy of all was the Buzz Lightyear that Joshua gave to him that is just like the one in Toy Story with the retractable wings. laser, and catch phrases. After hot dogs and presents I cut into the cake which Brenda made so wonderfully. I asked for just a simple white on white cake with maybe a number 2 on it. Brenda did just that and got a cool Buzz Lightyear candle for it too, as always the cake tasted delicious!

Thanks to all our family and friends who came out last minute to celebrate our little boy. Happy Birthday Javan, you are mommy's favorite boy in the whole world. I love you so much and I am so proud of you, I cannot wait to see the man of God you will grow up to be.

Otronicon

The Science Center was having their annual Otronicon

Event where all the Video Gamers come out and try out some new games and such. We had tickets to go so we figured today was a good day. We hadn't planned anything for Javan's birthday but we had to be in Casselberry in the evening for our friend, Rena's, engagement party. After the girls and I got home from our brunch we all headed to Orlando and met our friend, Angella, who works at the Science Center.

We walked around a bit and Peter got to fly a flight simulator which he is just fascinated with. The kids and I touched a bunch of stuff while Peter was flying and then when we got back together we explored some of the other floors. The video game stuff was cool but the girls were really more interested in the Science Center Exhibits that are always on display. Abbi found the volcano exhibit and Bresa played with this really cool floating sphere that was probably 5 feet in diameter. You could turn it into the different planets in our solar system and explore the surface. It was really neat. There were a couple other cool things that Daddy played with like the wave tank and the tornado tube. They had

one of those hurricane cases where you step in and close the door and an accelerating wind gets up to 75mph while you're in it. The door locks once the wind starts to climb, Bresa loved it but Abbi kept trying to get out, I don't think she realized it would stop after a few seconds. We met up with Angella again

and her and I did some virtual shooting, it was pretty fun but I would have preferred a rifle. Peter went after us and he did really well. You used actual guns and magazines that have been rigged to work with the software, of course there was no real ammo involved. On the first floor there is an Orange picking station where the kids collect oranges (plastic balls) and put them in a wooden box, then you put the full box on a conveyor belt and it empties the box and returns it to you.

The oranges are separated and go up a tube and then come back out in the trees to be picked again. That was probably all of the children's favorite thing. They would have been happy to stay there all day. We explored the rest of Kid Town and after that the kids kept asking to go back to it all day. It was pretty cool, they had a tree you could climb up and a tunnel that showed you what it was like under the streets in some cities.

On one of the floors there were a bunch of chess sets for people to play and they had a huge chess board that you could walk on. There was a game going on when we went up there but the girls still enjoyed playing with the pieces that were already out of play. Javan took a nap at some point during the day which was nice and unexpected. After we had seen and touched it all we headed over to my mom's house. We made the children sandwiches and dropped

of Javan for a sleep over. We were going to Rena's Engagement Party and didn't think he would enjoy it. It was entirely an Indian cuisine which is why I fed the girls beforehand but they did eat a couple things here and there and of course the cake in the end.

Mother-Daughter Brunch

On Facebook I like the local Chick-fil-a so I see all the posts that they put up and get to hear about all the activities that are going on. This week they were putting on Mother-Daughter Brunch so I decided to sign the girls and I up for it. They were all excited

about it and couldn't wait for today. When we got up and dressed we headed out the door a little early so we could stop at Target and pick up a present for Javan's 2nd Birthday. The girls picked out a set of Toy Story Matchbox cars that are pretty cool and knew Javan would enjoy. Off we went

to Chick-fil-a after that and saw all the cool things that were planned for us. We ordered our food after getting a complimentary photo of the three of us together from a professional photographer. He gave us the print right there so we took it home and put it on the fridge. While we were eating a craft came around and the three of us worked hard on making three hearts (one for each of us) and decorating and coloring them in. After all the food was gone and our craft was all finished the girls got in line to get their nails painted. The ladies did a great job and on the way out they each got a goodie bag with a Chick-fil-A cow, a pencil, and a coupon for free breakfast.

Washing the cat

Today Peter and were on the bed with Lucy-Goose and Peter said he saw a flea on her. I did my best to find another one without any luck but decided I would rather be safe than sorry and gave Goose a bath. She did not enjoy it but she didn't fight me just cried a lot. I had the door shut to the bathroom and the girls thought I was in there playing with my iPhone because I have an app

that makes cat noises. They didn't realize until later that I was washing the cat. I didn't see any more fleas in the bath but I had found one a few months ago on her so I wasn't surprised when Peter saw another one. Goose doesn't go outside but I suppose someone who has fleas at their house could've brought one over. I thought for sure that Lucy would run and hide from us and be really upset but after I towel dried her and she regained some of her dignity she was extremely friendly. Either she really wants me to give her a bath again or she was being super apologetic for whatever she did to deserve the bath in the first place.

"Let's go to work Mommy!"

Happy Birthday Charlotte!!

Today Charlotte turned two and had a nice party at her house. I told the girls we had to get ready for it and Abbi got all excited and said, "If it's a birthday party there will either be cake or cupcakes!" Maybe my children are a little sugar deprived but it just gives them another reason to get excited about parties.

As we drove up you could see the big bounce house set up in the backyard and both the girls got super excited about it. They pretty much walked right out to it when we came in the house and stayed there the entire time. The party was simple and laid back and it was nice to talk to people I hadn't seen in a while. Javan liked bouncing in the house also but also explored the chalk and bubbles and a couple of Charlottes toys that were out. I wasn't sure how he would be since the party started the same time his nap time usually does but he did really well and really only had one melt down that was fairly short lived. Charlotte wanted to like the bounce house but really wasn't sure of it. I got in and jumped with her and she laughed quite a bit but I think she liked getting in and sliding out of the house the best. After some cake and presents Peter and I both jumped in the

house too and were surprised at how much of a work it was. We were both pretty tired after that decided it was time to head home. On the way home I called up Tina and asked how her board game party was and she said it was still going on and we should come over. So we headed over to Tina and Noah's house and hung out and talked for a while and then headed home. It was only about 8:30 when we made it home but all the kids were ready to go to bed and Peter and I aren't far off.

Star Gazing

One of the gifts that Bresa got for Christmas was a telescope. She learned about our solar system at school and was very

fascinated by it all and had ever since wanted a telescope. Peter waited to put it together until tonight when things had calmed down a bit and there were plenty of stars to see in the sky. He gathered the girls and then went out to show them the heavens. I pretty much just went out to take a photo and ran back in because I was freezing but they stayed out for a while and then came back in with things to tell me.

My baby boy is so big!

To the Park

Yesterday I got a call from my friend Angella who asked if we had ever been to Blue Springs State Park. She wasn't sure where it was and thought we might be close, she had heard there were manatees there. I filled her in about the manatees coming every year because the water is 70 degrees year round, and told her the park was in our neighborhood. Today she headed over so we could all go together.

We brought our lunch with us so we could have a picnic in the park since it was about that time. We were surprised when we had to wait to enter the park because it was full but the wait was only about 10 minutes so it wasn't bad. Once enough people had left we were allowed in and saw that 133 unique manatees had been spotted today. I guess it had been a long time since we had been there and there were a few new things and things that had been changed. Bresa remembered coming before once we got inside but

Abbi said she didn't remember it at all. We went to all the outlooks and saw a bunch of manatees but the spring was really low so there weren't any manatees over by the swimming area where you can get really close. We walked to the end of the Spring and then all the way back up the boardwalk. Angella got lots of pictures and enjoyed seeing the manatees but was disappointed that they weren't closer.

I showed her some of the pictures I had from when the girls were little and they were right in front of us, I suppose we will have to return after it rains a good bit. We also got to see a couple alligators and anhingas, which are always cool. Eventually we headed back to the house because Chris was coming over to hang out. I am glad we got to go to the park, the weather was beautiful and it was so nice to be outside on our last day before school and work starts again.

New Year's Day

Happy New Year!! This morning we got up and had breakfast at the hotel before loading the car up and saying good bye to Bill and Lisa who were heading home. Peter and I weren't ready to head back just yet so we went down the fort and got tickets to enter Castillo de San Marcos, the large fort

there that was built in the 1600s. Peter hadn't been to St. Augustine since his 4th grade field trip and I had never been inside the fort although I had visited the city a couple of times in the last few years. We got in the fort and up to the top in perfect time to see the reenactment of the canon firing. It was pretty cool to see all the steps they had to take and hear all the commands (in Spanish), the canon was really loud (go figure) and the history and information about it was really cool. After that we walked around the fort some more and went in each room before heading out to see more shops. I wasn't thinking and didn't bring my camera with me so I did the best I could with my iPhone. After we left St. Augustine we drove up to Jacksonville where my grandparents live. My grandfather, Pepere, had recently had a stroke and was moved to an assisted living home. Things aren't going too well with him and we aren't sure how much longer he will be around so we decided to take a trip before it was too late. I had told Janell

our plans and she and Wyatt drove up and we met in the parking lot before we went in. We stayed awhile talking with Pepere about how things were going for each of us and who was doing what. After we left we stopped to get some ice cream before we all headed back to Winter Park to pick up the kids. It was good to see Pepere and also sad to know that he won't always be there; I was glad we got to see him now before he got any worse or before it was too late altogether. Overall I think we started 2011 off right; enjoying each other's company and spending time with family then getting our children back and doing our daily devotions before bed. We are truly blessed.

Thursday, January 27

A Man to Remember

Tuesday, January 25

Out with the Old in with the New

Sunday, January 23

All Clear

Monday, January 17

Bresa's Science Project

Sunday, January 16

Happy Birthday Javan

Saturday, January 15

Otronicon

Mother-Daughter Brunch

Thursday, January 13

Washing the cat

Wednesday, January 12

"Let's go to work Mommy!"

Saturday, January 8

Happy Birthday Charlotte!!

Friday, January 7

Star Gazing

Wednesday, January 5

My baby boy is so big!

Sunday, January 2

To the Park

Saturday, January 1

New Year's Day

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