25 Random Things

I know, another boring post with no pictures of my kids. Our computer won't read
our memory card so I can't blog about Valentine's Day and post those pictures...this will have to do.
I've been tagged on Facebook and bloggs more times then I can count so I am finally going to do it and I am not tagging anyone else, so don't be afraid to read it!

1. Mike is coming home tonight from being gone for 5 days. I really miss him when he is gone - but I get a lot more done, I'm a better mom, and I'm even more efficient when he isn't here. I've found that this is true for other women as well - Why?

2. I'm very afraid of the dark and of ghosts. I really am. I don't want to talk about it - it will freak me out and Mike doesn't get home for another 45 minutes. From the time I was fairly young it's been an issue and I don't think very many people even know about it.

3. I only have job security through September. I'm not worried, I really think one of the submitted grants will get funded, but it's a reality we have to face now. If I did lose my job - I wouldn't be looking for a new one here - I'd be looking out west!!! It wouldn't be all bad!

4. I don't really like showering. I do shower. I do like being clean. However, I'm always cold when I shower and then I have to start over and fix my hair again, put more lotions on, put more makeup on (sometimes) and I hate putting clothes on if I have any water on me - they stick. So, I'd rather just be able to get clean some other way - without getting wet. Come to think of it, I don't really like getting wet, ever...hmmm

5. I LOVE Jane Austin movies. I've seen them, I own them, I rewatch them. I just love them. I've never read a Jane Austin novel. I am an avid reader and I've never read her novels. Is that weird? It's awful, that's what it is!

6. I use the excuse that I work so I'm too busy to do home making things - like crafts, scrapbooking, decorating my house, doing elabrate birthday cakes, ect. Honestly, even if I didn't work, I don't think I'd do those things. I've done a little scrapbooking and I've tried with cakes, but I'm just not good at those things and I find myself getting frustrated when I try. The time it takes to set up and then clean up those things is also a pain. I think they are all great and occasionally I feel guilty that I don't do them or wish that I could, but thats just not me. I'm willing to accept that i don't do them - but will continue to use my job as an excuse as to why I don't.

7. I am starting to enjoy cooking. It's kind of weird. I always say I can't cook, but I am starting to try a few new things and I am starting to get better and the better I get the more I enjoy it. I feel like I'm no longer afraid of recipes with yeast in them. When I view cooking as a science, I get it! I made orange rolls from scratch this week and they were so good! I can do this! I've been getting better with soups and I feel confident with a few salads and desserts. I will probalby always serve very basic meals with very little pretention for my family, but I am not going to be afraid to do something fun for a party or potluck!

8. I wish I could justify spending money on a pedicure every month. I love them. I tend to only splurg and get them while I am pregnant.

9. I tend to only talk about the silly, funny, or awful things that my kids do that make me laugh or cry or want to go to bed for a week. I very rarely express how much I love my kids. I tend to only be physically demonstrative with them in private. I just want to make sure everyone knows that I love my kids more then anything. I would do anything for them. I worry about teaching them and setting a good example for them. I think my kids know I love them, I try to tell them every day - that is something that is hard for me to say.

10. I tend to talk to much when I haven't had adult contact in too long. I went to a girls night out last night and I think I said too much. I need to be more aware of when I'm feeling shut in and guard my tongue better.

11. I love candy.

12. I don't really like listening to music - except for sometimes in the car. I prefer quiet.

13. I love my blackberry. Mike made me get it, I didn't want it, I still complain about it, I don't carry it when I don't want to - but when I need it and I have it and use it - I love it!

14. I don't think anybody should be able to use ALL CAPS in emails. I hate getting yelled at that way at work.

15. I tend to get angry fast, I can be very reactive and Mike is the perfect calming effect on me. He takes his time, weights the options, thinks things through and is patient in helping me calm down enough to do those things to. I usually come around.

16. I love my church calling. It's perfect. I teach the "teachings for our times' RS lesson - once a month.

17. I don't like shoe shopping and I don't own that many shoes and I'm ok with that.

18. I think I'm 'handy' and Mike thinks I'm not. What does that say about me? I'm motivated to do things, I just don't do them well...

19. I love grocery shopping. I think Trina said this too. I really enjoy it. So much that I'll even do it with all four of my kids.

20. I walk twice a week with a friend. I go for the social interaction, but the walking is good for me to. We walk fast and talk faster.

21. Most of my socks have holes in them - my second and third toes are longer then
my big toe and I think that is why I get holes in them so quickly.

22. I don't really like facebook.

23. I don't like talking on the phone with people. After years of talking to my mom on the phone, that is really the only person I like talking to on the phone. Usually it's awkward and I don't like it and I'd rather email someone or see them in person or even mail them a letter. When I do have to call people, sometimes I hope to get the answering machine, I'd rather leave a message then talk to someone. I sometimes just don't answer my phone. This is sometimes a problem for me at work - I just don't like to use the phone.

24. I love lists and checking things off the list. Mike gets frustrated because I usually add things to the list quicker then I cross them off. Mike would like to finish a list occassionally.

25. I'm addicted to the internet. I spend too much time on it. I'm serious, it's something I'm working on. That is sad.

I think this blog has turned into 'true confessions' or something. Sorry. I try to not be too personal on the blog - I'm really tired and I never stay up this late...

Tag, Your It

Tagged Again - a while ago. I've actually been hit with that 25 random things like 4 times, so it's coming soon!

This was done for yesterday - Saturday and nothing is in any particular order

8 TV Shows I enjoy watching:
1. Life
2. The Mentalist
3. Law and Order
4. Super Nanny
Those are the only shows I watch - I honestly can't think of anymore.

8 Things that happened yesterday:
1. Lilah leaked through her clothes 4 times...do I need different diapers?
2. I cleaned up half of our office
3. I made breakfast for lunch and really enjoyed it!
4. Made dinner with the Vita Mix
5. Worked on the RS lesson for today
6. Took all 4 kids to Target (sigh, I should know better, that store and my kids just don't mix. It's actually a funny story, we played ping-pong, I had to go from my car, to the store, back to my car, back into the store, back to my car, back to the store, and finally back to my car. Yes I went into the store 3 TIMES!!!!)
7. The kids helped me clean up all the toys in our backyard
8. Calvin and Madeline 'helped' me give Lilah a bath (see #1)

8 Things I am looking forward to:
1. Mike coming home from the 5 day convention that he leaves for tomorrow
2. Going to Washington State in July
3. a girl's night out this week - if I can convince my friend's husband to sit in my house while my kids sleep!
4. Finding out how big Lilah is (she is 4 mo. old and hasn't been to the Dr since she was 2 weeks)
5. Lilah not having a cold for more then a week
6. warmer weather
7. making orange rolls for the kids next week
8. did I say Mike coming home from the convention he hasn't even left for yet?

8 Things on my wish list:
1. living closer to our families
2. a massage (my shoulders still hurt from Disney World)
3. Someday not having to work
4. a vacation somewhere warm with just Mike
5. a little bit bigger house - I just want a bigger playroom and 1 more bedroom - that's all
6. maid service 1/month to clean those things I don't like cleaning or just never get to
7. quiet
8. real grass

8 Things Mike did yesterday:
1. took Anna Elise to her dance class
2. worked on the bathroom in one of our rentals
3. met with some friends that are getting their house ready to sell
4. helped get the kids ready for bed
5. bought the blu-ray player at circuit city that FINALLY dropped to 30% off
6. bought another blu-ray player at ciricuit city that he wants to sell on ebay
7. watched a new blu-ray disk on our new blu-ray player with me
8. took more fliers and pamphlets to our booth at the Home Show

8 People I Tag:
1. Trina
2. Jana
3. Stephanie
4. Betsy
5. Janet
6. Nancy
7. Jenny
8. Megan

Trip to Florida

Last Sunday we started our trip to Florida. We left right after church. We drove to just across the North/South Carolina border and stopped at 'South of the Border' to eat our picnic dinner.
Thanks everyone for all the really good ideas for cold, non-sandwich, in the car dinner ideas.
See all the comments on my 'Help!' post for all the great ideas. We ended up eating calzones
at room temperature, the kids and Mike had pepperoni and I had spinach - they were ok - I didn't take the time to roll the dough out as thin as I should've. Anyway, 'South of the Border' was quite the experience. We saw very 'clever' billboards for it for 2 hours and Mike just had to stop and see for himself. It was awful and wonderful at the same time. It was probably one of the tackiest things I've ever seen and pretty run down - but the kids LOVED it! It was a really good rest stop for us. Apparently it was new when Mike's family lived in SC (Mike was born in Fayetteville) and pretty cool - now it's just old! We were grateful for a good place to stop and eat dinner and run around for a few minutes.


We continued on for another 1 1/2 hrs to our hotel. The kids did great. We got an early start the next day and pulled into Kissimmee at our resort around 3:00 pm. Madeline apparently doesn't take afternoon naps in the car. She didn't sleep on Sunday or on Monday and she is not fun to be around when tired, hasn't napped in two days, and wants out of the car. We were all very glad to get out and go swimming! We got a really good deal on a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo at a resort with several pools. The kids loved the house, Mike wasn't too impressed. I was happy with the price and it was clean and well kept. While the kids swam and played I went to Walmart and got some groceries and we had dinner and went to bed. We put Madeline to bed at 6:15 to make up for no naps. That backfired when she woke up just after 6am - ready for the day an hour early...we can't win. We had a great day at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. We came home, ate dinner, and the kids fell into bed exhausted.

The next day we took it easy. We drove north and went to the Leu Gardens in Orlando - they were beautiful and a leisurely stroll in the shade was welcomed! That afternoon the kids swam in the pool and Madeline got a much needed nap. On Thursday we hit the Magic Kingdom again.

I've included all the details of our visit with the pictures below.

We packed up and drove all the way home on Friday. Not a fun 11 hours in the car, but not so bad. The kids had a great time and we had fun watching them have fun. I am so sore from carrying Lilah around in that carrier for two days - but I wouldn't go to Disney World if I didn't have a stroller for both Madeline and Calvin so that is how it had to be. Anna Elise did a great job walking and not complaining. The kids were all so good. We brought our lunch and snacks in with us and the kids never asked for any treats or drinks or anything from the park. I thought we might have a lot of whining about it, but we didn't have any. They were really good. Anna Elise actually got a necklace from a lady that happened to observe her being good. What a nice compliment. Lilah was so good - but then I basically held her all day so why wouldn't she be? I think my neck and shoulders will eventually recover. We learned alot about what to do and what not to do and are ready for another trip in 3 or 4 years!

Here we all are on the Cinderella Carousel. We spent all morning doing the roller coasters with
Anna Elise and Calvin -so it was fun to do this ride all together. Most of the rides we were able to take both Madeline and Lilah on - it was nice to be able to do those together.



We went to story time with Belle. She did a great job telling her story and the kids loved it. Madeline kept calling her Barbie, but I don't think she noticed. Here she is with her 'Belle' smile with the girls.





Here she is with Calvin. They had quite the conversation. That is her real smile, he was just cracking her up. I think this is when he asked her if they could 'pound it' - fist to fist - like he does with the missionaries.



That afternoon Anna Elise and I watched a parade while the other kids played in a play area. She loved it. There were dancers and all the princesses were there with the exception of Jasmine. She really enjoyed waving to everyone.

Here are the kids riding the teacups with their dad on Thursday morning while I waited in line to see Tinkerbell and the other fairies.






Here are the kids with Tinkerbell.


This is Irridesa. She is Tinkerbell's friend. If you haven't seen the new Tinkerbell movie, you won't recognize her friends. It really is a cute movie and the kids love the fairies.



Here are the kids talking to Silvermist. She is Anna Elise's favorite. I was glad she was there. Rosetta and Faun were not there - but we were able to see the ones we really wanted to.


Calvin with Buzz Light year.

Calvin "pounding it" with Buzz Lightyear

Madeline at Minnie Mouses' house. This is outside in the garden area. The whole area was surrounded by these metal hoops as a sort of fence - Madeline touched every single one of them. I think it was her favorite thing!

Anna Elise and Calvin (behind the steering wheel) 'drove' the race car with their dad while I took pictures and kept Madeline out of trouble.

After they went around the corner you could see Calvin.

We finished the day off by doing more roller coasters. The kids wanted to go back and do more. They rode Thunder Mountain and then Splash Mountain again while I took Madeline and Lilah for a train ride around the whole park. They had a great time. They got soaking wet on Splash Mountain and Anna Elise was quite indignant. We went home and on the way Mike stopped and got the kids a Sundae at McD. Here we are back at the hotel - Madeline really enjoyed hers, but wasn't in the mood for picture taking.

Pictures from the Leu garden. This stuff was on several of the trees. The kids picked it up off the ground and played with it. Here they are with 'hair'

Hiding in the bamboo patch

Mike took a lot of nature pictures. He loves it. I included one of his pictures. There were so many beautfitul plants and flowers!

Prima Ballerina

Anna Elise started dance lessons last Saturday - February 7th. She loves it! It's a class run through the county and is only $40 for 8 weeks and she has been begging me for months to go, so we signed her up. Mike takes her and they have some good daddy daughter time. Mike was able to take some pictures of her first class, but now he is not allowed in the room, so those might be the only pictures we get. He did peek at her through the window at her second class, yesterday, and said she seemed more at ease this time. She is having fun!

Help!

So, I need some ideas. I need a dinner that we can eat cold, in the car, that isn't
messy and that isn't sandwiches. Does that exist? Any ideas out there? I know,
I might just have to go with sandwiches, but that is not a favorite at our house and
we will be eating them twice that week anyway, so if there is anything else that I could
make, let me know!
Thanks!

Random Sampler

I don't have anything in particular to post about - just a little bit about everything.

Mike really wants me to start a 'Calvinisms' sidebar to record the hilarious things he

says - I told him I would and now I can't remember any of the things he said this week.

So, look for my new sidebar, once I get a few things to post that I can remember!

Speaking of funny things your kids say - I do have one. Last night was a bit crazy because I bathed the kids alone while feeding Lilah. I should've known better. It got really crazy for a few minutes. I went to go get Lilah and when I came back Anna Elise and Calvin had been 'diving' in the bathtub, jumping off the soap ledge into the tub and making a huge mess. I got after them and then tried to help them wash. I held Lilah and her bottle in one arm and tried to get the

shampoo open with the other. Madeline loves to wash herself. She was eagerly watching me.

Right as I got the shampoo open and poured some into Anna's hand, Anna Elise said 'Mom, I

really need diving lessons'. Madeline misunderstood the situation and being the little parrot

that she is stood up and stuck both hands out and said "I need diving lessons". She somehow

associated the shampoo with diving lessons. Here I was with a wet 2 year old standing in the

tub with wet spiky hair wanted to get washed - with her hands out in front of her and

was yelling "I need diving lessons" over and over while I helplessly laughed, unable to help

her wash her hair because I only had one hand and was laughing too hard. Mike didn't think it was that funny, I guess you had to be there. Anna Elise and I were rolling.

Speaking of Madeline, although we had a good start with the potty training, it didn't really go anywhere. With Mike's accident coming that night and then a crazy week following, it just didn't work. She is happy to sit on the potty and loves to wear panties, but really doesn't care where she pees. So she usually sits on the potty at night and usually goes, but she is not wearing panties yet and probably won't until we get back from our vacation.

I'm officially done with taxes for both businesses and us personally. Just in time to start on the

January reports and payroll taxes. I'm kind of tired of it. I need a break.

I'm going to finish off with a few pictures of Lilah - everyone tells me how quickly she is growing

and changing. I know she is bigger, but she looks the same to me. She is a happy baby and loves

to watch her siblings play. She is still sleeping well and still is REALLY hard to feed. She is desperately trying to suck her fingers. I am desperately trying to keep the pacifier in her mouth. With two thumb suckers (well, one a former thumb sucker) I'd rather she didn't suck

her fingers, but I am discovering it's not really up to me - she does what she wants.