Wednesday, December 31, 2008

6 Births and 1 Epidural Part 3

That December in 2000 was one of the most organized in my life. And I made no plans. I was due to have a first millennial baby: January 1, 2001. (Everyone knows the millennia really began 2001 NOT 2000.) My first two children had come early and I was petrified that my third would arrive at the most inopportune time- Christmas. This fear drove me to finish buying before the first of the December and wrapping before its first week was over.

And then I waited. The eternal wait of the last month of pregnancy. Any day, any hour, any second. Every RSVP ending in “unless I have the baby, of course.”

Two mornings before Christmas morning, we planned on heading over to my parents (in case I wasn’t there for Christmas, grandparents would have to substitute). My family was lounging around in bed with me when the first contraction came. By baby number three, labor was routine and we didn’t panic. We leisurely got ready, loaded the car, and headed over to my parents. All while timing the contractions. Then I helped my mother finish wrapping (she was not as prepared as I and needed to get finished quickly now that her next few days were going to be otherwise occupied).

We were still wrapping later in the morning when the contractions contracted to 4 minutes apart and we headed off to the hospital. When the nurse found out it was my third labor and I waited till 4 minute spacing before coming, she wisely decided to call the doctor before getting me checked in and checked out. And she was glad she did, because I checked out at 8 cm. Do you know what that means? I will tell you. No epidural.

Being strep B positive, I needed two shots of antibiotics, an hour apart, before the baby was born. Someone forgot to tell my baby. The doctor came in to check me and I mentioned I felt like pushing. “Well give it a try next contraction.” I know he wasn’t expecting the reaction to that push. I know because he was still dressed in his street clothes. I pushed, the baby entered the birth canal, and things started moving quickly around me. Through the intensity of pushing, I remember nurses frantically dropping the table down, throwing scrubs over the doctor, and preparing the baby bassinet. Less than one hour from entering the hospital, I was holding Ethan in my arms. Born two days before Christmas with beautiful, angelic white hair.

His voice, however, was not so angelic, unless you’re including the angels with trumpets. Ethan’s cry was loud! That adorable raspy newborn cry has never exited my son’s mouth. He was born hollering loud enough for the entire floor to hear. Nurses came to see who was making the commotion. I could hear him from my room as the nurses tended him in the nursery. Even now, his voice can rattle the windows.

In fact the doctor decided his lungs seemed so healthy, we could go home early, skipping the 2 day watch period necessary for missing the second shot of antibiotics. (I’m sure this had NOTHING to do with the fact that the doctor would otherwise have to come in on Christmas Day). Ethan left the hospital on Christmas Eve in a cute red stocking.
And I missed my first try for an epidural. Reason? Waiting too long before coming into the hospital.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

How I can tell I've had a successful Christmas...

  • My children have worn their new skates or rollerblades more than their shoes.
  • I went 1 1/2 days wearing my PJ's.
  • I may not be able to eat/buy more chocolate for a LONG time (after the chocolate I still have around is gone, of course) .
  • We've gone through a couple of beef sticks, boxes of crackers, and cans of spray cheese.
  • I didn't run out of wrapping paper (but I came close).
  • We have a finished 750 piece puzzle, well at least 749 of the pieces.
  • We have played Clue, Life, Rook, Go Fish, Phase 10, War, and Uno, and Settlers of Catan (although that one wasn't a recent present).
  • We have slept on the couch for a week because our house is full of visiting family (I would gladly sleep there longer if it meant they were staying).

I have had a wonderful Christmas and hope you've had the same. I have some posts of the presents I made (and couldn't tell about till now) and posts about our visitors. Plus Ethan's birth story, birthday, and baptism. But those will have to wait a while longer, I'm busy enjoying my family before they leave!

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Friday, December 26, 2008

Ethan Baptism



Due to the fact that

1) it is Christmas,

2) Ethan turned eight 3 days ago (wasn't he just being blessed yesterday?),

3) I have three families at my house (in addition to my own), and

4) church was canceled last week,

I am not sure I have given out the information about Ethan's baptism this Saturday. For all who are interested in coming, email me or comment and I will give you the information. Otherwise you'll have to wait till I post about it (which might be a while due to the reasons already listed).

Saturday, December 20, 2008

The Christmas Spirit

What is the Christmas Spirit? It is a hard thing to quantify. We have all felt it and can recognize it, but how do you explain it to someone? It is something that can be known only by experience It is partly peace and joy. It is an increased sense of generosity and kindness. It embodies excitement, innocence and awe. The Christmas spirit focuses us away from ourselves, towards others. It is trying to be like Jesus while feeling gratitude for the miracle of the atonement. At this time of year we get a glimpse of the love Jesus Christ has for us and our fellow men. You know you have found it when you feel the Holy Ghost, expanding your soul and filling your heart with peace. So how do we find the gift of a true Christmas spirit?

It isn't traditions and decorations. These things are meant to help wrap the Christmas Spirit, not replace it. Traditions are an important part of our Christmas celebrations. They help us connect to our families, our past, and our communities. Just remember traditions and activities are not the Christmas Spirit, but tools to help us welcome the True Spirit into our homes.

When choosing which traditions to start, or continue, keep in mind the advice of Dallin H Oaks in general conference, “Some uses of individual and family time are better, and others are best. We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.” Those are excellent qualifiers to the worth of our Christmas traditions. Do they strengthen our families or our faith? “That is just what we have always done,” is not the best excuse to keep tradition alive.

Decorations can also help focus us to the Christmas Spirit. Mankind forgets so easily. A constant visual reminder of Christmas can help remind us of the spirit of Christmas. Decorations don’t have to be extraordinary or expensive to serve that purpose.

Be careful that, like a 1 year old on Christmas morning, you don't become so distracted by the "wrapping paper" that you overlook the gift inside. Allow traditions and decorations to invite the Christmas spirit in our homes, no to stand in the way of it!

The Christmas Spirit can be found in simple ways. One of the easiest ways to find the true spirit of Christmas is through small acts of kindness. As the busy world gets in our way, it is easy to get frustrated and grouchy. A small change in attitude can make a world of difference. The next time you are waiting in a check out line (you know, the one that never seems to move), try taking a deep breath, smiling and sincerely offering the checker a good day. Their spirits will be lifted, and so will yours. It doesn’t take much to find the Christmas spirit when you try small acts of kindness. This is true in our homes as well. A smile instead if frown, a hug and encouraging word. These small, ordinary things hold the Christmas spirit in them.

The Christmas Spirit can be found while worshipping the Savior. It is funny how we can get so swept up in “celebrating Christ’s birth” that we forget to take time to worship Him. Is it the Spirit of Christmas that keeps us from family and personal prayer, family home evening, or scripture study? As President Howard W. Hunter once advised, “If you desire to find the true spirit of Christmas and partake of the sweetness of it, let me make this suggestion to you. During the hurry of the festive occasion of this Christmas season, find time to turn your heart to God. Perhaps in the quiet hours, and in a quiet place, and on your knees—alone or with loved ones—give thanks for the good things that have come to you, and ask that His Spirit might dwell in you as you earnestly strive to serve Him and keep His commandments. He will take you by the hand and His promises will be kept.”

If everything you are doing is getting in the way of focusing on Christ, perhaps you are too focused on the outer wrappings of Christmas. If you feel devoid of the Christmas spirit and a little hum-buggy, maybe you have forgotten to look in the ordinary, simple places for the Christmas Spirit. I pray we can all feel the Spirit of Christmas throughout this season.

This is an adaptation of a talk I was supposed to give in Church last year. Snow cancelled church that day, but I thought I should put all the work to some good. Hope that explains the "preachiness" in the post, since it technically began as a sermon of sorts.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

I left my pants in NYC

Have I ever mentioned we can be impulsive about day trips in our family? I'm sure I have. Well, since my brother and his wife are in town visiting and she had never been to NYC, I decided to spend Saturday making Christmas graham cracker houses. Then my husband adeptly pointed out we might want to take them to see some of the sites. So we did the houses the night before and I decided to take them into Boston. Finally, I had a glimmer of reality and realized they really wanted to go into the BIG city. We decided to make this trip. About 1 hour before we actually left.

Luckily, while my husband cleaned out the van so we could actually put our feet on the floor, he noticed it was a little chilly and we decided to dress extra warm. We FINALLY pulled out of the house, but made a "quick" stop at the warehouse store to buy a GPS. Because we have no idea how to get anywhere in NY and it isn't a good place to "just try to figure out."

Plus the night before, I got lost, on the road I drive down almost daily, trying to find Dominoes Pizza. Why didn't I have it delivered like I would normally? Thought I would save some time. But in my defense, there was NO lighted sign at the road and the building was down a long narrow drive that you would only see if you happen to look directly left as you pass it. I would still be driving around looking if I hadn't seen the delivery guy pulling out of the parking lot. Needless to say, the GPS was going to come in handy.

Finally we were off, with an early start of 1:00PM. While driving we tried to decide where we were going to go. I mean, there are so few options available...we decided top priority were for Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building. Our new GPS told us our arrival was 3:00. When I looked up the ferries, the last one went to Ms. Liberty at 3:30. Impulsiveness does have its drawbacks. So we hit no traffic, didn't get lost for the 1st time EVER, and found parking for the cheap price of $28. And Peter made me carry our new GPS, my old XM radio, and my cell phone. Plus my wallet, car keys, and extra diapers. Luckily I just bought a coat the contains about 300 pockets- this should explain the bulges in pictures (the candy I've been eating have nothing to do with it).

Did you know that they practically strip search you to get to the Statue of Liberty? Well, we had to take off our coats, shoes, hats, etc. And as we crossed the metal detector, the speakers kindly informed us the last ferry was leaving in one minute with or without us. What took us 3 hours to do at home, we accomplished in 45 seconds in NY. Mainly, loading everything back into my pockets and dressing everyone for the cold. We made it. It was beautiful. And COLD.



We headed back on the next ferry (COLD COLD COLD). Once back on shore we decided to walk around. Because obviously that is the easiest way to find places in NYC. I mean, everything is so close together. After making it to the 9-11 site, past the Meryl Lynch bull (yes, we joked about the kids being bull crap and took pictures of it), and then a few blocks more, we noticed a few things:

  • First of all, Joseph was wearing pants with the adjustable waist strap broken. And no belt. Every three steps his pants were halfway off. Look closely in all the pictures, he is pulling his pants back up. THE ENTIRE NIGHT.
  • Second, Matthew does not like me to carry him when Dad is an option. Sorry Peter.

  • Third, Joseph will let me carry him. He is heavy. Too heavy to ride comfortably on my shoulders for several blocks.

  • Fourth, Ryan thinks every cab in NYC is the Cash Cab. He thought for sure that if we would only take a taxi, we could play on the Cash Cab. Because there are only a couple million taxis in NY. Needless to say there were numerous "sightings".

  • Fifth, Kirsti does not like the cold. Poor Uncle Gordon had to carry her almost the whole night. This is because her own parents were not kind enough. We would have made her walk. We made her younger brother, whose pants were practically at his ankles, walk a lot of the time. She for some reason brought her stuffed animal with her and it had to be carried, too.
So, after our legs were about to fall off from walking and our arms and shoulders from carrying the younger children, we decided we needed a new plan. Walking around in the hopes of eventually hitting on Times Square was not working. Even though we had no idea where it was. Go figure. Peter wanted to take a taxi. (Ryan almost exploded from excitement. "I know it will be the cash cab!!") We would only need 3 taxis to fit us all. I convinced him the subway would be a better option. Ryan was a little disappointed, until he saw what a subway was.


My conversation with Joseph went something like this:

"Is this a train?!?" Kind of. An underground train.
"We're underground?!?" Yep.
"Watch me circle this pole and then fall over when the car stops." Turns out even me, the queen of ungermophobia, can get grossed out by some things. And three of my boys sliding stomach down on a NYC subway car is just the thing to do it. (Luckily we were the only one in the car)



We finally arrived at Times Square where we ate pizza (yes, you observant people, that is pizza two nights in a row), took pictures, and Peter almost got stepped on by a police man when he lay down to get the right angle. Then we asked that police man how to find the Empire State Building and found out we only had to go down a mere 15 blocks and over 2. So we walked. And walked. And held up Joseph's pants. We did pass Macy's window display. Beautiful!


The Empire State Building was very cool. You know NY is big, but to see the lights going out as far as you can see on every single side? Awesome. We were definitely tired and frozen by now. We walked a few blocks to Penn station and caught the subway all the way back to our original starting point. If we had used the subway at the beginning, we would have had to walk about 3 steps to get there. That is about how far we walked from the station to our parking garage.


GPS took us out of the city and we got home at midnight. All in all a perfect family day.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Gingerbread Houses, if Gingerbread was made out of Graham Crackers

As a Christmas tradition, Gingerbread houses are awesome. As a reality, they are a lot of work. Because they involve mixing, cutting, baking, etc. So we use a simpler, lazier alternative. Graham Cracker Houses. One box makes 5 houses. I doubled the frosting recipe (but you could also half it easily)

Notes-
  • Make one bag of icing per person, it is easier!!
  • This is a great project for inviting people over (the frosting and graham crackers are cheap and the candy lasts FOREVER- even making 10, we had tons of leftovers)
  • You can dye the frosting red and green (forgot till after I made the houses)
  • The houses need to set for an hour before using, but put the rest of the frosting in bags right away so they don't also set
  • Waffle Icecream Cones are great Christmas Trees


Cookie cutter houses are so boring!!

Wouldn't you rather live in this neighborhood?
(minus the frosting splattered EVERYWHERE)




You'll have to click to enlarge this collage:

1. Ryan likes to build walls 2. I have my white picket fence

3. Uncle Gordon likes lots of SNOW 4. Matthew enjoyed eating the candy the most

5. Kirsti added presents around her tree 6. Ethan likes the overgrown garden look

7. Elise added a little of Everything 8. Simplicity was the key for Aunt Jessica

9. Joseph takes us inside the mind of a 4 year old 10. Peter likes Candy Pavers, Stones, and Ponds.








Here are pictures of Uncle Gordon setting up the frosting, the mess left over, and what we did instead of cleaning up (which made the frosting set on the table=a lot longer to clean up)

Thursday, December 11, 2008

The Elves are Coming...

There is a family tradition we love around here. In a large part because it helps keep me sane. The twelve nights before Christmas (Christmas Eve counts as night #12), the elves come and visit our house. They sneak in and check out our bedrooms. And if they're clean and the house is picked up, they leave a small treat in our stockings. Like a Hershey's miniature chocolate small.

The cost is minimal (even when you multiply by 8), the kids keep their rooms cleaner (without any fights or reminding) during those 12 days than they do the entire year, and there is nothing cuter than watching a toddler walk down the line, patting everyone's stocking to see who got a treat.

At least once during the 1st couple of nights the elves leave something that I don't really like. Surprisingly, my room doesn't pass inspection that night. The kids are decently scared enough to keep their rooms spotless. One year they made sure to clean my room the next night so Peter and I wouldn't miss out on the treat.

The first night is Saturday and my children are already pumped for the elves to come. The boys even cleaned their room already in preparation. I know, I was shocked too. I should have warned you to sit down first.

Anyone who comments that all I need to do is make a habit of my children cleaning up every night so I could always enjoy tear free clean rooms will get me sticking my tongue out at you. In fact, shame on you for even thinking such a thing. If I did that, what fun would my once a year clean room tradition be?

And I really like my stockings- my friend Mary had these in her house and I liked there was no need to keep a supply of matching fabric, just the pattern. I made 4 that year and have since added 4 more.
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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

*updated* Why I am behind on my blog- a snapshot of a typical day right now.

6:00-6:30 Alarm goes off, try to ignore it and sleep as long as possible because I have had many days like this already.

6:30-7:00 Make four lunches, check my email for the first time since yesterday morning. 40 in one account and 60 in the other. Reply to a couple of emails, search for any pressing ones. Begin looking for my quilting ruler that Matthew wandered off with yesterday and I need today.

7:00-8:00 Send oldest off to school, eat breakfast, find Kirsti clothes and socks (laundry pile). Find Ethan and Joseph missing shoes (one hidden in plain sight, the other on the bed). Find Kirsti and Ryan homework folders (desk and kitchen counter). Find Kirsti and Joseph their missing coats (Joseph's room- for Kirsti- and boys' bathroom- for Joseph). Sign Kirsti and Ethan's reading logs and Ryan's field trip permission slip. Still can't find the quilting ruler (and by this point I have searched the whole house- including basement and garage). Send 3 kids to school.

8:00-9:00 Order more Christmas presents online. Eat breakfast. Print needed coupons for shopping trip today. Put pants in washing machine for me, Matthew and Joseph since none of us have clean ones. Gather the rest of laundry. Put pants in dryer and start a real load.

9:00-10:00 Get dressed. Put Matthew in shower with me since he threw up last night (ate too much dinner) and fell asleep before we got home (yes, he threw up at a restaurant) so still smells terrible. Get us all dressed, change laundry, make shopping list, leave for store.

10:00-11:00 Hit AC Moore. Try to shop their sale for Christmas presents while I have two kids. Involves hiding things under coats and constantly pointing interesting things out to Joseph, who loves walking through the store. Successful again, but it is tiring. They do NOT have quilting rulers, but use 40% off coupon on shrinky dink paper.

11:00-12:00 WalMart for grocery shopping. Realize that I am running later than I thought and forgot to grab Joseph's backpack when leaving the house. Having dealt with him not having his backpack for preschool before (he had a melt down), decided not to risk it. Will have to make a stop at home.

12:00-12:15 Get gas in Suburban because gas gauge is broken and 1/4 tank could mean 4 gallons left or 0 gallons left (but never 1/4 tank left). Do a little dance when I see the total (under 1.75 a gallon!!) Try to convince myself I have time to run to the last grocery stop, but just can't do it. When I check my calendar to make sure he really has preschool today, realize it is my sister's birthday. And no luck, preschool is today.

12:15-12:50 Run home. Grab backpack and diet coke (getting tired by now). Drive to school and drop off Joseph.

12:50-1:50 Run to Target (they have something we want for the kids on sale this week and this is the only time I could get it kid free. Not completely kid free, but Matthew is too little to "get it" or tattle and will forget before Christmas, anyway.) Get out with 10 minutes free (because I practically ran through Target) before I have to head back to the school. Run to Michael's across the street- they have the ruler!! Use my 40% coupon to buy it. Get to the school with 4 minutes to spare so I quickly update my Christmas spreadsheet with all the new stuff I bought today (I keep track of ideas, bought items, and cost for each child). And yes, I carry the folder around with the spreadsheet in it all the time just in case I get a minute to spare.

1:50-2:45 Run home. Unload groceries. Hide Christmas presents (this must be done before the older kids get home. TV won't distract them like it does Joseph). Open two boxes from Amazon that arrived while I was gone and hide them, too. Change Matthew, who insists on sitting on the toilet. Clap when he actually pees. Add underwear to his Christmas list. Leave him on the toilet while I change laundry (he refused to get off). Start the dryer, chase a now naked 2 year old running around the house, and clothe him. Yell at Joseph to put his shoes back on, put away the frozen and refrigerated groceries, leave a note for Elise to call me when she gets off the bus, and head for the warehouse store (which I could have done earlier if I didn't have to go back home for the dang backpack).

2:45-3:30 Run through the large warehouse store, did I mention I was there earlier getting gas? Load the car and get home 1/2 hour after Elise, but just as the other three arrive home.

3:30-4:00 Unload car again and put away all the groceries, only missed one frozen thing earlier.

4:00-4:30 Call and email the other room mothers in my kids' class to go over holiday stuff. Also call my brother because I missed a call from him. He called to tell me Joseph accidentally called him earlier while we were at the store. Right as he was getting in trouble for saying "shut up". Call and wish my sister happy birthday.

4:30-5:30 "Help" the kids do their chores, change laundry again, "encourage" the kids to finish their chores. One child in screaming the ENTIRE hour and another screaming for 1/2 of it. Did I mention that I could have done all 5 chores in 20 minutes? Got to love teaching responsibility.

5:30-6:00 Call my mom (missed her call earlier) to go over some projects she graciously agreed to take over for me, make dinner, load dishwasher, wash dishes, and help Kirsti with homework. All simultaneously. Make the tacos, feed the kids, get Matthew and Joseph dressed again.

6:00-6:15 Put on coats and shoes (alas the youngest 2 lost their socks and I was making them go sockless) and put the boys in the Suburban to take them all to scouts. Peter pulls up as we pull out. Stop and give him the scout age boys. Take the younger two back inside.

6:15-7:45 Brainless watching of child programming.

7:45-9:00 Use my new quilting ruler to cut the square and strips I need for a Christmas project that must remain nameless for now. Apparently at his instistance, Elise takes Matthew to the bathroom again and he goes again. Try to get kids ready for bed. Legs so tired, it hurts to stand. Peter gets home late with boys (stopped to pick up the Dark Knight at store).

9:00-9:40 Realize how late it is, force kids to bed. Watch a TV show with Peter. Pray he doesn't make some snide comment about what I did today because the floors still aren't swept and dinner is still not put away.

9:40-11:00 Cut out pattern, iron and pin and get ready to sew. When go to wind the bobbin, realize I am out of the thread I need. Take it as a sign that I just need sleep. But, in the interest of honesty, I did consider a midnight WalMart run for thread.

11:00-11:30 Since he is headed out of town tomorrow and needs the trunk space, empty Peter's car of presents I bought last week . Load dishwasher and put away dinner. Change laundry. Do a suduko puzzle. Go to bed.

This is pretty typical of my days right now. Monday you could exchange AC Moore for JoAnns, take out shopping but add 3 dentist appointments, piano lessons and dinner with interviewing doctor (where Matthew threw up and Elise watched the other kids for the first time by herself). Finished one project (which I also can't mention yet) and started this one (which is when I found Matthew had lost my ruler). Also, doing laundry would be replaced by gathering and sorting dirty laundry. Oh, and Peter did make a snide comment that day and it was all I could do to not sock him one.

Should be done sewing by the end of the week. I hope. Never be done with dentist appointments, though. Or feeding the kids dinner.

*update* As I was getting dressed to go get the thread I needed, Matthew walks up to me carrying the missing ruler. Guess I have two now.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

What Kids Know Tag

Last tag. I told my friend I didn't want to know my kids' answers, so she tagged me in her comments. I asked the kids as they woke up so they didn't know each other's answers (except the youngest two). Please note that we are in the midst of nighttime wars, making them all sleep in their bed at night (this has been hard on the youngest two and the last few nights have been pretty tough battles). That helps make some of the answers make sense. Also, if you can't tell, Matthew is in the parrot stage. Answers are listed oldest to youngest.

1. What does mom always say to you?
  1. Quiet or you'll go to bed.
  2. Get off the computer or turn off the TV
  3. I love you
  4. Go to bed
  5. I don't know
  6. I da-no
2. What makes mom happy?
  1. When we go to bed
  2. When I do my chore and take out the garbage
  3. my smile
  4. Dad
  5. reading me stories
  6. mom happ-ee
3. What makes mom sad?
  1. When she has to clean up stuff she already picked it up (too true, Elise, too true)
  2. When I don't get off the the TV when she tells me to (got grounded last night when I found him at 10:30 watching TV)
  3. Me going to school
  4. A lamp getting broken (Random)
  5. When I have a bad dream, that makes you sad. Last night I dreamed . . .
  6. Mom dad (sad)

4. How does mom make you laugh?

  1. When she does something funny on accident
  2. When she complains about me not laughing
  3. tickle me
  4. tickle me
  5. Ha,ha,ha. You just made me laugh
  6. Mom waff

5. How old is mom?

  1. 32
  2. 32
  3. 31
  4. 30
  5. 29
  6. Josive two
6. How tall is mom?
  1. probably 5'2'' because I am 4'9''
  2. 5'7'' (how does he know that?)
  3. 62 inches?
  4. 20. (Me: feet or inches?) Um...inches?
  5. 20 and one half pounds
  6. How taw mommy?
7. What does mom like to do?
  1. drink hot chocolate
  2. write comments on blogs
  3. clean
  4. yawn (Kirsti is on a random streak I guess)
  5. clean the house every day, duh. (it was the duh that really got me)
  6. cwap (clap) (it was either that or he was saying lap, as in "I want on your wap". I couldn't tell.)
8. What is mom's job?
  1. To help us and clean the house
  2. to stay at home and watch the younger kids
  3. clean
  4. cooking dinner
  5. clean the house
  6. mommy jab
9. What is mom's favorite food?
  1. chicken, maybe?
  2. teriyaki chicken
  3. chicken and rice
  4. Mexican soup
  5. stir fry
  6. bagel (Again, I think he was actually asking for a bagel, not answering the question)
10. How do you know your mom loves you?
  1. you're always nice to us and help us in places and times we need help
  2. because you give me lots of hugs and kisses
  3. you give me hugs
  4. you give me lots of hugs
  5. I don't know how you love me, I only know how I love you
  6. luh-you. Maw-maw luh-you.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

6 Quirks

I was tagged by my friend Brookeh (sorry, private blog) to list 6 quirks. I figure this is like the 7 random things but more focused on my idiosyncrasies (and I have enough random things to do many variations on this tag). Anyway, here goes . . .

1. I HATE being touched when I am really tired. This can make kisses (especially if hugs are involved) after family prayer a very unpleasant thing if I've had a particularly long day.

2. I have to put Dominoes (and Qwirkle pieces) away in the correct order. We had a set that went to 14 and I always started with 14/14 and ended with 0/0. If they are put away out of order, I will dump them out and do it correctly.

3. I chew on pen lids- I know, terrible habit, but hard to break.

4. I am a free range snacker. If there is food out, I will keep picking some up to eat. This can be bad at parties and I have to remind myself that it is not polite to keep taking more and more food. If I'm not careful I'll eat the entire plate of cookies, candy, bread, whatever while more polite people are taking their time.

5. I can't stand the sound of styrofoam rubbing against itself. It pierces my brain. If packaging comes with it and the kids get into it, I cover my ears and force them to get it away from me.

6. I'm still scared of dogs. As an adult I know to put on a smile and ignore the unreasonable fear. I will even pet the dog and compliment the owner. But always (unless I know the dog well), there is an undercurrent of fear there.

Monday, December 1, 2008

100 "Have You Ever"s

My friend emailed me this meme and, being to lazy to hit forward, I decided to post it here instead. I highlighted the ones I've done in red. Enjoy!

1. Started your own blog (obviously)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (does the junior high marching kind count?)
4. Visited Hawaii (honeymoon)
5. Watched a meteor shower (ask me sometime about Peter's and mine UFO experience)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (post coming someday about a funny story that happened then)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (not that well, though)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (and took pictures)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (closed when we went, but we walked around it)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill (more likely to go in sick than stay home well)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (will NOT elaborate)
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community (lived near their communities twice- just thinking about them always makes me crave shoofly pie)
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (financially secure anyway)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (best way to go to movies as a family- wish they had them here)
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (I went to one whole class)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma (been rejected a few times, but Peter's plasma payed for my wedding ring)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (overdraft protection has helped this out)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square (yes, I know I only live a couple hours out of New York)
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - (see this post)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (still driving it around~ Audie A4)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84.Had your picture in the newspaper (most recently wearing these Halloween costumes)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life (unless you count not strangling my children)
90. Sat on a jury (got called for duty in Utah, but was living in Missouri at the time)
91. Met someone famous (but my husband has)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit (I still say the dealership should have honored the correct deal- cost a couple thousand dollars and taught us to ALWAYS take home contracts to review before signing)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day (more like 3 or 4)