Tuesday, September 28, 2010

My Family AKA The United Nations

This post was inspired by my hub. He told me randomly today, "Jeez you have a lot of halvsies (mixed people) in your family." I replied after a few minutes of counting saying, "Wow there are 11 of us in my family!" ELEVEN! So, this blog is dedicated to all my colored kin out there who I love! I would not want it any other way....I love my fam!

Me: white and black. My mom is not mixed but she had the jungle fever back in the day, so she almost counts.
Jessica (cousin): hispanic and white
Nathan: (cousin) hispanic and white
Anissa: (cousin) arabic and white
Lisa: (cousin) arabic and white
Devon: (2nd cousin/lil bro) arabic, white, and black.
Nikki: (cousin) white and hispanic
Edy: (aunt) white and hispanic
Michael: (uncle) white and hispanic
Hope: (cousin) white and hispanic
Randy: (cousin) white and hispanic

Friday, September 17, 2010

21st B-day Dinner

I just want to say a BIG thank you to all my lovely family and friends who made my birthday really special! From phone calls, blog comments, Facebook wall posts, and texts, it made my day! In the Taylor family, Larry and Tami take us out to eat to the restaurant of our choice. I chose Famous Dave's BBQ. Here's some photos from last night!







This is a nice picture of you, Larry!


Prettiest blue eyes you've ever seen :)



Monday, September 13, 2010

Cruiseee!!!

We just got back from a cruise to the Caribbean. Let me tell you, it was a NICE vacation. Our ship was the Carnival Valor. It was AMAZING. The food was so delish, entertainment was hilarious, and the ship was huge. We originally planned for our friends, Trent, Eliza, Bryan, and Monica, but they couldn't come. Trent and Bryan are both from Matt's mission in Miami. When we got on the boat during the muster station safety briefing Matt saw another fellow missionary from his mission. His name is Jake and his wife is Heather. We ended up hanging out with them every day on the cruise and went to all the ports together. I definitely suggest if you are going on a cruise...go with friends! It was SO much fun having a couple our age to hang out with. We had MANY laughs and sooo much fun. If our other friends would've came, it would have been a big mission reunion for the boys! Here's our adventures:


Before the cruise we stayed one night in Miami. We ate at this place where Matt ate at a TON on his mission. It was so very good.


Waiting in line to get on the boat finally!


My first meal.



I only drank two pina coladas. They were $5! But Mom, they were so so good.




The first formal night dinner.


Cayman Islands in front of the boat.



Our friends!

Mayan ruins in Belize!

My birthday dinner.



Matt bought me pretty roses on my bday!






Ok. So this picture was just about THE highlight of the cruise. We went to karaoke night on the ship. This is no ordinary karaoke. You sing in front of a live band with an actual backup singer, so it's pretty legit. We get there and they asked for volunteers to sing. I said that Matt should do it, so we got the song list from the emcee. I thought that him singing "Love Story" by Taylor Swift would be hilarious. Matt was a trooper and signed up to sing that song. So up walks Matt with his flat bill hat and his basketball shorts and sings the funniest rendition of that song I've ever heard in my life. Once I figure out how to load it on YouTube I'll put it on here. The funniest part about the performance was listening to the backup singer lady trying to harmonize with Matt because he sang so off key.
















Friday, September 3, 2010

10 Things I Love About You

Hello blog world, this is Matt, the other half of the Matthew and Rachel blog. Rachel's 21st birthday is coming up on the 9th so I thought a little list of 10 reasons why I love her would be fun to make. These are not in any specific order. Just 10 random reasons why I love my girl. Happy Birthday MaMa!

1. Entrepreneurship skills
It was always a dream of mine to start my own business. Who would have thought that Rachel would have before me? Her photography business is blowing up and I’m so proud of her for all the time and effort she puts into it. She has shown me what it really takes to be an entrepreneur.

2. Cooking skills
I would have never thought how important cooking was when I was single. There’s just something about a home cooked meal that hits the spot and Rachel is the bomb diggity at cooking. I am grateful for every meal she cooks because frankly I’m not good at it. Cook on babesters!

3. Social skills
Whenever we go anywhere, be it school, a Chuckers game, my parent’s home ward, Rachel will know someone there. I’ve always had a kind of keep to myself personality when it comes to meeting new people but Rachel is great and starting conversations with anyone and everyone. I think that’s one of the reasons why her photography business is doing so well.

4. Positive Attitude skills
The attribute that trumps all others. Having a positive attitude makes so many other things possible in life. Rachel is the owner of a very positive attitude. I’ve noticed that a lot of times things just seem to go right for her. I think the main reason why is this very skill.

5. Motherly skills
Even though we don’t have any babies yet, we have a pup named Murphie. It’s been pretty interesting to see how both of us react to different situations that Murphie puts us in (i.e. peeing on our clothes, always crying at the door when she was just let out, etc.) Rachel has handled almost all of them with a lot of patience and kindness. (Yes I said almost :) ). She will make a superb mother some day.

6. Sympathy skills
The few times that I’ve gotten sick or something has happened to me, Rachel has nursed me back to full strength. I almost feel bad at how much she waits on me when I’m feeling gross. My sympathy skills are definitely sub-par but I am trying to learn from her on how to care for others.

7. Freestyle rapping skills
Say what? Say what?? Believe it. You give her a beat and she will throw it down. Will it rhyme? Eh, at times it will. Will you laugh? MmmHmmm. Nikki Minaj ain’t got nothin on my girl :)

8. Style skills
When I was looking in my closet the other day I noticed something: Rachel has bought me every single shirt I own in there. She is a lover of clothes but only of the coolest clothes. And I am a lover of her because she is the coolest.

9. Humor skills
Rachel makes me laugh more than anyone on the planet. Some of it is from the silly faces she makes, some of it is from the things she takes almost too far, some of it are just good ol funny jokes. Either way she makes sure there is never a dull moment in the Taylor apartment.

10. Texting skills
Every morning when Rachel wakes up (around 11 or 12) she will always text me. She’s been doing this for a long time and I’ve enjoyed every single one of them. Nothing helps me with my morning/afternoon more than a simple “good morning babe” text. It is sweet and something I’ve come to depend on.

In the comments section feel free to put any reasons why you guys love Rachel and be sure to wish her a happy birthday! This is a big one!