100 things about me

100. I am the oldest child of 4. I'm not close to my siblings at all. It makes me sad.

99. I got married 11 days after I turned 20.

98. I really like my husband.

97. I like to eat baked goods, but only those baked by me.

96. I really like to pull teeth.

95. I was going to go to school to be a dental hygienist, but changed my mind when I saw how much Science and Math classes I needed to take.

94. I'm not good at math.

93. I like to take baths. I like to read in the tub, every night. It's my reward (sometimes I don't know what I'm being rewarded for, but I get one anyway).

92. I'm always surprised when I see kids eating salad.

91. I'm a huge optimist, almost annoyingly so.

90. I just rediscovered music after not really listening to it for years! I love James Blunt, John Mayer, Coldplay and 5 for fighting.

89. I convinced my husband to learn to play the guitar because of this new found love.

88. I have never owned my own vehicle. I've always had to share. We have only ever had one car the whole time we've been married.

87. I do NOT make my husband honey-do lists. I think it's mean.

86. I like to read. fluffy fiction that doesn't require too much thought.

85. I say I like to scrapbook, but I haven't done it for a really long time. I don't feel all that guilty about it.

84. One of my favorite things to do is make my oldest child smile. It's not an easy task, but I'm getting better at it.

83. I like being creative and crafty and I'm most content when I have a big project to work on.

82. I don't like to drive, if someone else is in the car with me, they are usually the one to drive.

81. If I am covered with a blanket, I will fall asleep in minutes.

80. I've seen many beginnings of movies because of #81.

79. I sleep with a blanket covering my ear.

78. I can't stand to have anything on my face. I will never scuba dive because of this.

77. I'm very claustrophobic. My husband likes to tease me about this. often.

76. I stopped caring what people think about me. It's very freeing.

75. I like seeing people from high school and love reunions. I'm in charge of our 20th in 5 years.

74. The only time I ever see my cousins is at funerals. It's sad to me, but I don't know how to change it.

73. My mom and grandma both had breast cancer and beat it! It scares me when I think about my chances of getting it.

72. I always have my toenails painted.

71. I don't like raisins.

70. I'm a huge daddy's girl. I love to hear him say he is proud of me.

69. I have tears in my eyes from typing #70.

68. My husband and I have never been on a honeymoon.

67. I am never happy with my hair. I think that is how every girl is though.

66. I reward myself with chocolate when I get done paying the bills.

65. I always want to eat out, but when faced with the choice I never know where I want to go. When we finally get there, I wish I had just cooked something. (this isn't all the time, just most of the time).

64. I like to stay up late.

63. I believe that my family will be together forever. This is such a great comfort to me.

62. I don't like to speak in front of adults. Kids yes, adults no.

61. I like kids.

60. I like to sing along with the radio in the car when I am all by myself. Loudly

59. I like the color green. Like granny smith apples or the inside of an avocado.

58. I could spend hours in IKEA.

57. 90% of my pants have been purchased 2nd hand. The rest have been bought on clearance.

56. I still don't know for sure if we are done having children.

55. I am offended by men when they take off their shirts. I don't want to look at anybody's nipples.

54. I love The Office. Also LOST and Bones.

53. I think flowers as a gift are a total waste. Give me chocolate!

52. I check the mail obsessively. Even when I'm not expecting anything.

51. I don't like shrubs.

50. I sunburn really easy.

49. I don't like amusement parks.

48. My kids think I'm a good cook.

47. I have never made home made macaroni and cheese.

46. I like to eat butter. plain.

45. I think my husband's longer curly hair is sexy.

44. I love homemade rolls, but only when they are hot out of the oven.

43. I think sausage is one of the most disgusting foods there is.

42. My mom makes the best stuffing in the world. It has sausage in it.

41. I like to be in the mountains, but I don't like to camp.

40. I have no clue how to decorate a home.

39. I have never bought a birthday cake from the store.

38. I don't like doughnuts unless they are krispy kreme. HOT krispy kreme

37. I eat oranges by first eating the clear membrane and then the white peel on the bottom and then the orange part. I can't help it, it's just how I do it.

36. I love french fries dipped in ranch dressing.

35. I take my salad with dressing on the side.

34. I can't eat iceberg lettuce.

33. I love roasted marshmallows.

32. I have never read a book by Jane Austen.

31. I have a hard time reading poetry, but if someone reads it to me, or takes the time to explain it, I love it.

30. I have a short attention span.

29. I think Polly Pocket is the devil.

28. I don't like to dust and I never do it. Sometimes my kids will notice it needs to be done and ask if they can do it.

27. I cannot stand to be late. I also don't like to be early. I will leave early and then drive around, just to be on time.

26. I'm very sad that there will be no more Harry Potter books.

25. I love it when pets have people names. Especially first and last names that aren't the same as the owners.

24. I like comedians. Clean comedy please.

23. I didn't have any cavities until I went to college.

22. I'm not good at sports. at all.

21. I'm so glad that my husband isn't into sports.

20. I have never tried sushi.

19. I love rice crispy treats and usually eat almost all of them when I make them.

18. I am not ever overwhelmed by laundry. I just do it and get it done. No biggie.

17. I don't know how I would ever live without my husband. He is my rock and I depend on him for so much. I really do love him.

16. I wish I liked to clean more. I love having a clean house, I just don't want to be the one who cleans it.

15. I don't worry about germs. I am rarely sick.

14. I have never been to California.

13. I have never ridden in a taxi.

12. My husband says I make the best pies ever. I don't like pie.

11. I'm not allergic to anything.

10. My sister is 13 years younger than I am. I did a dance when she was born.

9. I have some cousins that I am related to on both sides of the family. My mom married her brother's wife's brother. It's legal.

8. I played the clarinet in middle school band. I was pretty good too. I quit after a year and a half. I wish my mom would have tried to talk me out of quitting. That and piano lessons.

7. I like diet coke. I drink it too much. I don't see myself ever quitting.

6. I have a cat. He lives in our house. This fact surprises me everyday. I like him. This fact surprises me even more.

5. I wear make-up everyday. Even when I know I'm not going anywhere.

4. I refuse to wear sweats out of the house.

3. I am not very compassionate to sick people. I would make a lousy nurse.

2. I cry when I get angry and/or frustrated.

1. I am a child of God, and I know he loves me.

Oh what do you do in the summertime?

Our summers are usually pretty uneventful. Summer is a very busy time for Chris and his business, so we don't really plan many family activities.

We do like to get out of the house though. Some of the things we like to do are:

Visiting the library
Going to the children's museum
Playing with friends
Swimming
Going to the Park (but only in the morning because it gets too hot during the day)
Watching movies
Watching TV
Playing the computer
Shopping
Scouts for the boys

We still haven't gone to the Zoo yet this summer, but it is definitely on our list of things to do. I think that camping should be on there, but I really don't know if that is something we will be doing this summer. I love the mountains, picnicing is one of my favorite things to do. But sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag in a tent is not on my list of favorite things to do.

Some of my friends have trailers and four wheelers and boats and other toys and have fun playing every weekend. I'm sure they have lots of fun! Maybe someday we'll be able to join them. Until then, I'm happy to sleep in my nice soft bed and hang out close to home.

dress contest give-a-way!

I just found this contest for a gift certificate for a great dress company that sells, get this... modest dresses! Almost impossible to find lately, so pretty exciting. Go and check it out dresses . Maybe you can enter and win!

power of friendships (edited)

When we first moved "up north", some of my biggest worries had to do with my kids finding friends. We had such a great neighborhood where they could just go outside and there would almost always be someone out there for them to play with. And a mom for me to talk to. I never realized how I came to depend on these moms for friendship. I miss them so much.

The kids have found friends at school, and a little in the ward. And I think they have discovered that siblings are about the best friends to have (although I doubt they would admit that). I have friends that I work with and hang out with occasionally, but it's harder in the summer. People are busy and I understand that. I miss being able to go sit outside and just talk while the kids play. Now it seems like we have to schedule things in advance and plan all these fun activities.

I miss the old neighborhood.

Maybe someday I will find another one that is close, but I think we will never be able to find what we once had.

I'm told it has changed and it is just not the same as it once was. I guess that's what happens in life. People move, kids grow up. It's just part of life.

I just never really understood how important friendships are for adults. I was so worried about the kids that I never even gave thoughts to my own friendships. Kids are great and can make friends just about anywhere. It's been harder for me.

I'm so lucky that I have Chris. He is my very best friend and always will be. I can talk to him about anything, but sometimes a girl just needs another girl to talk about girl things.

I get so jealous of people who are close to their siblings. They hang out and watch each others kids. I have never had that kind of relationship with my brothers and my sister. Maybe when my sister grows up and has kids we will, but with our 13 year age difference and the fact that my kids will be way older than hers, I just don't know. *edited to add, luckily I have found some friends in my sisters in law! Thanks Becky! Thanks Von! Thanks Tanya when I do get to see you and chat. We just don't get together very often because of distance and busyness too!*

Just because I'm a grown up, doesn't mean I don't need a friend every now and then. I've learned that.

Independance Day Celebration!

We started out the holiday weekend by traveling to my hometown of Richfield Utah. When we got there we called some of our friends and went to visit. Then we went to dinner with my dad (my mom is recovering from surgery, so she rested) to "The Little Wonder Cafe". The adults all got the special which was steak, potato, soup and salad for $8.95. We also got entertained by some really white trash. (Click on pictures to view bigger)

After dinner, Chris went to visit his friend and get some pointers on the art of all that is guitar playing, and the rest of us went to the children's parade. The children's parade consists of a crowd of kids with their bikes decorated, followed by each ward with mom's and dad's pulling wagons and pushing strollers. It was one way to see some friends, but the bikes went by pretty fast so we mostly saw the babies with their parents. Hot and tired parents.

After the parade we went and visited our friends, the Brown family. They invited us over for root beer floats. The kids played with their chickens and explored while the parents chatted. It was a nice visit. Then we went to say hello to Grandma and Grandpa before heading back to the hotel for swimming and sleeping.

The next morning is the big Parade! We went to the firework stand and purchased fireworks. We used the money we earned by recycling our pop cans. We each got to spend $2! Which doesn't sound like a lot, but it was enough for a nice little show. The lady who helped us has been selling fireworks every each since she was born. She loves the 4th of July!

We got to the parade just a few minutes before it started. It was a great day for a parade. The sky was overcast so we didn't get too hot. We did see this interesting sight though. A man covered in tattoos with a huge snake drapped around his neck like a scarf, pushing a stroller with a cute little kid in it. What a sight!

After the ping pong ball truck came by, the real parade started. We watched the flag go by. (the boys in the brown shirts are our friends the Brown's)

We saw kids doing gymnastics on a trampoline on the back of a flat bed trailer. I'm glad my kids weren't on that float!

Candy was thrown in great abundance. I have decided that I'm sorta in love with the pear taffy. It's the green kind with the yellow center. Try it, you won't regret it (unless you don't want to like it, then you will regret it because you will want to eat it). You are welcome.

Horse and carriage. It was funny because the people are dressed like pioneers, and then they take a drink of bottled water. Authenic huh?

More candy is thrown and gathered. Notice the look of sheer joy on Connor's face.

Fancy car...

Anna
More candy, more cavities and upset tummies

Tractor...one of many

I call this Mr. Mister. He has a pressure washer set on mist and misted the crowd. It felt really good and cooled us right off.


The conclusion of the parade. 3 tired and hot kids

After the parade, it's imperative you go to the park. Along with 5,000 other people. I wish I would have gotten pictures of the crowd! I was too busy making sure nobody got lost. It's easy to do. People love Richfield for the 4th. People who have moved away come back for the 4th. It's a great place to see old friends and neighbors. It's also a good place to feel a little overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people. We stayed long enough for Anna to ride a horse and the kids to get a snowcone. We visited with a couple of people but not many. It was just too much for me!
After the parade we went in the mountains to one of my very most favorite places in the world! Monrovian Park. My dad brought his grill and we cooked hamburgers and hot dogs. Chris had his guitar and practiced a bit and then my brother Michael (most people call him Rob) played it a bit. Isn't he cute?
Tristan read of course. Grandpa took the kids and the dog for a walk to throw rocks in the creek. It was really peaceful and quiet. I love to hear the water from the creek. It's so soothing and peaceful.

Tristan discovered this snake. It was a rattler.

Chris followed it to
The bushes and took a bunch of pictures. I stayed far away and told my mom that if it bit him I would kill him. He was fine and got some pretty cool pictures.


Chris was tired, it was so cool and peaceful that he couldn't resist a little cat nap.

After the picnic we went back to Grandma's and rested a bit and watched some tv. Grandpa took Anna to feed the horses. We waited for dark so we could light our fireworks and see the big show that the town puts on. We had a great spot by Grandma and Grandpa's house. The fireworks were really good, we had fun.

After the parade we went home. We didn't get home until after 1am! It was a fun trip though, I'm glad we went. It was nice to see our friends and family. But it is good to be home.

Hole-y smile!

We finally got Anna's tooth out tonight. It's been loose for quite a while now. The new tooth is growing behind the old one! She is so happy to have it out finally. we came close to pulling it quite a few times, but she would always move away or push my hands away. Now here is an interesting fact about me that you may not know. I really really really like to pull teeth. Poor Tristan finally stopped telling me he had loose teeth because I would always bug him until he let me pull them out. Now he pulls his own. So anyway, we got it pulled and Anna decided to keep it one night to show Chris since he was gone working tonight. We are going to make a tooth fairy pillow tomorrow after Church. Hopefully the toothfairy will be very generous!

I putting together our big fourth of July post. Be prepared for candy, small town celebration and snake(s)!

Happy Fourth of July!

We are just about ready to leave for our "vacation". We are heading to Richfield to visit family and celebrate the 4th. We'll be home on Saturday. I have my camera around my neck as I type so hopefully I will remember to use it and take lots of pictures to share.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday!