Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Tagged

I have been tagged by Taryn! I am supposed to come up with 7 random things about myself. Pretty much everything about me is random :) But here we go....

1. I am so excited that my best friend from high school, Marie, who I have been terrible at keeping in touch with for the last 12 years or so (how long have you been married Marie?) has started to blog! Lately I've been wishing for more of her influence, to remind me of the idealistic and creative person I once was. And so far, her blog has not disappointed!

2. I am allergic to raw vegetables, and some raw fruit. Okay, so I've neve been officially diagnosed, but when I eat them, my gums swell up and my whole mouth starts itching like crazy. Especially in the back of my throat, where I can't reach. Probably not life-threatening, but annoying enough that I have a very hard time motivating myself to eat my 5 a day.

3. I don't like Halloween. I think I'll do a whole post on this soon. Party-pooper, I know.

4. I am TERRIBLE at thinking on my feet. The worst example I can think of was when someone asked me how much Grace cost (yes, you read that right--like I went to Walmart and picked her off the shelf). I stared at them blankly for about an eternity before uttering this snappy response, "That's kind of personal." Go, Julie!

5. I have just discovered Charlie and Lola, and I love them! I can have the theme song stuck in my head all day and not mind a bit. I love the style of the animation, love their accents, love their brother/sister interactions, love the imagination. An imaginary friend named Soren Laurensen? How lovely!

6. This week I completely filled the hard drive on my computer. I was in the middle of downloading pictures, and I got this message about the destination drive being full. That is 70 gigs of stuff. Rob claims it's all my stuff. Ummm, maybe. So I guess I know what we're getting for Christmas. In my own defense, it has taken 4 whole years to accomplish this, and our computer is out of date anyway!

7. I am terrible with numbers. It's like I'm dyslexic with them. Especially 4s and 7s. Just today, I saw a 47 and said seventy-four. I can't add anything with 7s or 8s in my head. Have to use my fingers. I can't remember dates, phone numbers, or addresses. They fall right out of my brain. Times are also a problem. However, I had a miraculous high school calculus teacher who managed to help me pass the AP calculus test, which was one of my proudest moments :)

So now I'm supposed to tage 7 other people. I think that is about how many people read my blog, so if you're reading this, you're tagged. Ha!

Saturday, October 27, 2007

2 Going on 12

The other day I was doing a goofy dance in the kitchen while I got lunch ready--a kicky, hoppy, jitterbuggy, jivy kind of thing (at least in my mind). Grace started yelling "Stop! Stop!" like someone was giving her an Indian rug burn.
I said "Stop what?"
"Dancing"
"Why? I'm having fun!"
"Because it's weird!"

Man, I thought I had at least a few more years before she started finding her mother embarrassing. But, she was probably right.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Mantras

Rob's grandpa had all these sayings he used to tell his kids, which I think is kind of cool. It seems like that would help you focus on the things that are most important to your family. Some of his were:
  • Cast the beam (as in, from your own eye)
  • A soft answer turneth away wrath
  • No excuses, just performance
  • Nothing tastes as good as thin feels
  • Keep your pecker in your pants (they had 6 boys!)

I'm thinking I should get a mantra or two. So far I like "I can do hard things." That's from Sister Tanner of the YW. Also, "If you have a nice thought, do it." That's from another talk by someone... don't remember who! I really need to work on that one.

Did your parents have wise sayings? Do you? I'd love to hear them!

Monday, October 15, 2007

Annie's list

Annie sneakily tagged anyone who reads her blog to answer these questions of her choosing. Here you go Annie!

1. Three biggest fears? (besides anything bad happening to a family member/child)
-calling people on the phone
-driving across bridges
-throwing up
2. When was the last time you danced?
Does doing the ballerina walk down the hall to get Grace into her bedroom count? Before that, last night me and Grace danced to Jack Johnson while she got ready for bed.
3. Do you creep on stranger's blogs?
Every once in a while.
4. If you could go back to be any age for a day, what age would you be and why?
20. Three months in London, baby.
5. Are you a good liar?
Terrible! Though I do catch myself being a little hyperbolic :)
6. Do you judge someone when you can tell they've had elective cosmetic surgery?
I can never tell.
7. If you have children, what's one thing that you always told yourself you'd never do when you had kids? If you don't have children, what's one thing you tell yourself you'll never do. (Psst! You. Yah, you. The one without kids. Guess what? You'll probably do it.)
Get mad at them for trivial things. Yes, I do it.
8. What's something that totally grosses you out?
earwigs. also Grace smashing bugs with her bare fingers
9. Do you ever delete forwards without reading them?
frequently
10. Do you ever lie to get out of obligations?
Just when sales people call.
11. Consider your body weight and your yearly income at their present states. Would you rather be 200 pounds heavier and $200,000 richer or stay at your present states?
Annie, you have a twisted mind. I guess I'd stay as I am. Now, for a million? I'd take the weight and hire a trainer and a chef :)
12. When was the last time you bought a pair of shoes and what were they?
I bought some cheapo $5 Target flip-flops in Utah over the summer because the ones I wore on the plane broke. I liked the old ones better :(
13. The Olympics. Take them or leave them?
Just the ice skating. And those tear-jerker moments.
14. What's your favorite accent?
Scottish
15. What's your favorite scent?
baking brownies
16. Gum or breath mints?
Gum
17. If you could look like any celebrity, who would it be?
Catherine Zeta-Jones
18. If you had the chance of looking like said celebrity in exchange for your thumbs would you do it?
Not a chance--I just watched Breach. Creepy!
19. Do you religiously wear sun screen?
not as well as I should.
20. Do you generally trust people/their motives or doubt people/their motives?
I'm a cynic.
21. Would you describe yourself as a complicated person or is what you see what you get?
What you see is what you get.
22. Do you watch what you eat?
I watch it go right in my mouth.
23. Do you watch what other people eat?
No. Okay, sometimes.
24. Do you judge how other people raise their kids?
Yes.
25. Do you judge people who dress poorly?
Well, now I know Annie is juding me ;)
26. Do you judge people who are homely?
No.
28. Your interest in politics: High, Medium-High, Medium, Medium-Low, Low, Obsolete?
Medium Low
29. Favorite song of all time?
Midnight Train to Georgia by the Indigo Girls
30. Acoustic or electric?
Acoustic.
31. If you were a hermit, would you shave?
No. I barely do anyway. Never sit too close to me when I'm wearing a skirt!
32. If you could shave your head without your significant other throwing a complete hissy, would you?
Yes. I came very close to doing it in college.
33. What was your least favorite age?
All of junior high. Plus 6th grade.
34. How many times a day do you check your email?
At least 3, often more.
35. Are you in a tiff with anyone right now?
No.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

A child's eyes

Today Grace was looking out the front window and she started saying "there are flowers! Look at the flowers!" I couldn't figure out what she was talking about, but then realized she was pointing at the maple tree across the street that is starting to turn yellow and orange. I love the image! I was going to take a picture of the tree, but the camera was out of batteries. So here is a picture of the eyes of my clever girl.

And while we're on the subject of Grace, let me tell you how the words "nap time" bring out her creativity and charm. Also, her ability to totally read me. Today she talked me into 5 more minutes outside, then laid out her blanket on the grass and said she wanted to lay down and look at the sky. But she wanted a blanket to cover her. And a pillow. Right HERE (pointing). How could I say no to looking at the sky? Plus it was perfect picture weather. So here is Grace in her makeshift bed on the lawn, and we got to look at the sky together.



And play with leaves... Boy do I love my girl!

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Chase Fall forever



Fall has always been my favorite season. In high school I decided that someday I was going to spend life chasing Fall around the globe and still every Fall I think, "Yeah, I really should do that someday." Growing up, Fall meant picking pumpkins, grapes, peaches, apples, etc. on my grandparents' farm with all the cousins. Those are some of my favorite memories. I'm afaid the closest I can come to reproducing that for our kids is taking them to local u-pick farms. It's not quite the same, but I love it too.

Today the weather was perfect! Grace had a ball. It's hard to tell, because she just dislikes the camera.



Sorry this picture is sideways. I can't seem to rotate it in blogger, and Viv finally fell asleep, so I'm going to bed too. For now, turn your head please :)


There are also animals to look at. They call it a petting zoo, but there are signs all around saying not to put you hands through the fence or they might get nipped. So, really it's just animals in cages. But the kids still love it.