New restaurant in Champion to be ‘family friendly’ place

The sign isn’t hung yet outside the door of Ron and Dena Taylor’s new restaurant, The Country House, in Champion. The couple hopes to have a grand opening over the Memorial Day weekend. They plan to host several street dances this summer, as part of their effort to showcase local talent at the restaurant. (Republican photo) By Carolyn Lee The Imperial Republican As of March 1 Ron and Dena Taylor are the new owners of The Country House in Champion. The restaurant, which will include a dance floor, is located in the building formerly known as Cindy Lou’s BBQ and Champ Inn. The Taylors plan to open the restaurant for lunches several weeks prior to the grand opening over the Memorial Day weekend. Last summer Ron and his sister, from Washington State, were walking around town, and he mentioned that he’d like to open a restaurant that featured dancing and local talent, similar to a restaurant the sister frequented in Washington. His dream came true when the building was sold by Ryan Johnson. It was also Dena’s dream to own a restaurant, as she loves to cook and feed people. “God led us to this,” she said, to provide a family atmosphere. “Champion needs a restaurant, and we want to draw from a large area,” she added. “I want everyone ages eight to 80 to be able to dance,” Ron enthused, with local talent and live music involved. He plans to recruit bands from as far away as Sterling, Colo. and Ogallala, but is most interested in drawing local talent. “If we provide a band they can sing,” he added. Ron participated in a talent contest during the Chase County Fair last summer, and was amazed at the talent in the area. “We want to make sure people understand that we’re family friendly,” Dena added. As far as music goes, it can be rock or country or anything else, as long as it has a dance beat. No lyrics about sex, drugs or alcohol, though. Dena has some experience with food service through catering and serving meals at the couple’s church, Crossroads Wesleyan. She plans to offer a daily lunch special, with homestyle food, not fast food. Dinners will feature buffet options and a salad bar. Dena will also provide meals for special events at The Country House. Hours will be Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Besides farming on the Colorado border southwest of Champion, the Taylors have been busy installing new ceilings and floors, painting and opening up areas for more dining. The former cafe will be the lunchroom, while the former bar and part of the entertainment hall will be dinner/dining. The west end of the entertainment hall will feature a small stage, and the rest will be a dance floor. An area to the south of the restaurant will feature local crafts, flowers and gifts. The area will be run by the Taylors’ daughter-in-law, Stephanie Taylor. She is married to son Jacob, who farms with the couple. Other children include Jason and Kim of Thedford, and Josh and Carla of Grant. Carla will be involved in the restaurant business, too. The Taylors have eight grandchildren, also. They moved to the Champion area five years ago, after ranching in Wyoming. The couple will turn the counter in the former bar into a soda fountain. No alcohol will be served, as the couple is aware that people need to drive to The Country House, and don’t want anyone drinking and driving. Kitchen and wait staff will be hired soon, Dena noted.

Officially a WAHM!

I turned in my resignation to the ethanol plant today. It was a difficult decision to make, but I know it was the right one. There was a lot of security in having that job even though I felt underutilized there. It is so fulfilling to be at home taking care of my family. I am still going to be working, but it will be with a much different focus.

I am hoping to expand the business for Locker Room. I have had several calls in the last few days for shirts or hats. I am really excited. We have some plans for simple modifications to the back yard so that Ryan can play outside while I am screen printing. Josh dug up the pond this past weekend, and we have done some major trimming of the rose bushes. We are going to run a fence across to the corner of the house so that when he escapes out the back door, he is still penned in.

My other job is going to be doing the books for Ron & Dena's new restaurant. I will also be waiting tables a couple of nights a week down there. Josh should be at home most of the time when I am working and I can take the kids with me to do the book work. I told the twins that I would pay them a little bit to take care of the little boys while I am doing that.

It feels so good to have taken the leap and I know that God is going to take care of us.

Terrifying Twos?

I remember the twins going through a phase where we were chasing them constantly and they were always into things and being terrified, but I thought it was because they were twins. I am now learning that it was because they were two. Once again I have been blessed with a two year old who is afraid of NOTHING! We have a gate between the kitchen and the rest of the house and if I do not keep it locked at all times Ryan will disappear. Usually he goes to the back yard, but it is still frightening all the same.

Last Friday he added a few gray hairs to my head. (I haven't actually found them yet, but I am sure that they are there.) We were in Champion visiting Ron and Dena when we (Stephanie and I) realized that we had once again lost Ryan. Steph made a lap around the house looking for him, but to no avail. I was feeding Lane, but I got up and wandered through the basement and the garage looking and calling for him. Still no Ryan, so I decided I better get serious about looking since there is a creek in the back yard and a lake just down the street. I put Lane down and we went outside to seriously start looking. I checked my suburban on the way by, and headed for the creek. Just as I was really starting to panic and head for the lake, Stephanie called to me that she had found him. He was in her car "driving." When she left later she said that he had turned all of the knobs he could get his grubby little hands on and had thrown her keys in the back seat. She says her windshield wipers will never be the same.

So.......30 minutes later I am getting our stuff together and telling Grandma and Grandpa goodbye, when I see Ryan coming out of their bathroom. I ask him what he is doing and he brings me two pills that he had been chewing on. Ok, so 35 pound 2 year olds are not supposed to take Blood Pressure medicine. We knew how many pills there should be and we were missing one, so I called the Pharmacy. He told me that I needed to take Ryan to the hospital. (I had already been there once that day with a sick Lane, and really didn't want to go back.) Off I went. Ryan fell asleep before I got there, so I had to figure out how to juggle him and Lane into the clinic. They checked his blood pressure and it was fine, so they let me take him home to observe him instead of admitting him. Thankfully it did not appear that he actually swallowed the pill. I have no idea where it went, but at least he was ok. I think I have my work cut out for me for a while!

Here is my little darling in his baby brother's hat. (He likes to wear all of Lane's clothes by the way.)


Here he is in the baby swing. Another thing that is not designed for a 35 pound 2 year old.

Scott

I don't know if I have ever blogged about Scott our friendly Chinchilla, but I know I have never gotten pictures this good of him. He is Nate's pet and has added some interesting moments to our lives. He was given to Nate by a friend's older sister and Nate loves him "like he was my own son." :-) So here he is:

MOMMY WHAT DOIN'?!?!

I hear this questions thousands of times a day. I can be changing his diaper, or feeding Lane, when he knows exactly what I am doing, but he asks anyway over and over just to see if I will change my answer. I know it is because when I can't see him I call, "Ryan what are you doing?" but it is still cute and after the 10th time in 2 minutes quite annoying.

I feel so blessed to be at home taking care of my boys right now. Ryan has strep throat and has been running a pretty high fever the last few days and even though it is scary I love every minute of it. In the past when my kids have been sick, my mom has come to take care of them so that I can go to work. I always feel so bad when I leave them at home with her when they are sick.

Thank you Lord Jesus that you have made it possible for me to be home at this time. I trust you to take care of all of our needs during this time of transition. Thank you for the beautiful children that you have given me and give me wisdom to train them in a way that is pleasing to you. Amen

Lane John Taylor has arrived!

Lane John Taylor arrived March 2nd, 2010 at 12:18 pm CT. He weighed 7 pounds 10 oz (rounded) and was 20.5 inches long. He is a good baby so far. He kind of gave us a scare at first because the cord was wrapped around his neck 3 times and it was pretty tight. The doctor kept saying, "Scary, that was scary!" They kept him in the NICU for an hour and a half to make sure he was ok, and then he spent the rest of our stay in my room. Breastfeeding is going great! I found a recipe for some "Lactation Cookies" that is awesome and helping me build supply. We got out of the hospital in record time, about 48 hours this time. Now, a week later I am feeling pretty good. Still kind of tired, but that will pass as I heal. So on to the pictures.

Mommy's baby bump right before surgery.
Our first picture of Lane.
7 pound 9.7 ounces
Grandpa holding the baby.
Grandma holding the baby.
"Uncle" Derek holding the baby. (I think he likes him!)
Baby feet! He has really long toes and fingers. He does not have the monster hands and feet that Ryan had.
Daddy and Lane taking a snooze in the hospital.
Lane in his "going home outfit." He didn't actually go home in it though because he had a diaper malfunction. ;-)
In the car seat ready to go. (Why does it take so long to check out?)