interesting facts

Things you've already done: bold
Things you want to do: italize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font


1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band
4. visited hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to disneyland/world
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped
12. visited paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
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
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
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden a gondola in venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise and a sunset
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise
33. seen niagara falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors - Great Britain, Sweden
35. seen an amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen michelangelo's david in person
41. sung karaoke
42. seen old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal in 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 theatre
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of china
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies
62. gone whale watching
63. gotten flowers for no reason
64. donated blood
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a cheque
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
74. toured the everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guard in london
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the grand canyon in person
80. published a book
81. visited the vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
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
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the alamo in person
96. swum in the great salt lake
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee

expectations

Maybe it's just a problem of mis-expectations. Misplaced expectations. Mistaken expectations.

Do I expect too much of my son? I realize he's only verging on 4 - but other times he seems so smart, independent, responsible, helpful - that it makes his really 3 year old moments that much more unbearable.

Do I expect too much of my daughter? She's so easygoing that it's easy to expect her to be able to handle a lot more comings and goings and then I'm surprised when she has a meltdown from exhaustion or hunger. hmmm. Here's your sign. She IS only 8 months old.

Do I expect too much of my husband? We've had a lot of conversations in our 9 years of knowing each other about our idiosyncracies, expectations, childhoods, and dreams for the future. So why do I put unrealistic expectations on him?!! It's not fair to either of us.

Do I expect too much of myself? I can't expect to be a perfect parent to my children, a perfect wife to my husband, a perfect crafty-sewing-business owner. I need to somehow (??!!!) figure out a way to be o.k. with the mistakes I make, and realize that life will go on, and it will go on happily and probably even more peacefully if I just let go of some of my expectations.

I KNOW I don't expect too much of myself on the domestic home-front side of life :-) Just check out the dust bunnies & the dirty dishes piling up on the counter. And oh yeah, we ate dinner out.

And yes I did get over it. Doubt. Shoved that in the corner with the dust bunnies.

surprising

I am surprising myself with my crazy thoughts lately. Nothing tragic or scary, just surprising.

I love my kids. I love being a mom. Not a day goes by where I don't thank the good Lord for the ability to stay home with them.
BUT...
not a day goes by where I don't think good Lord what am I doing at home with them???!!!!

I am actually thinking maybe 3 kids is not the choice for me. Which is something I never considered.
I am actually thinking that maybe it wouldn't be awful to go to work one or two mornings or afternoons a week.
I am actually thinking what the heck am I doing. Am I really the best parent I can be?

(I'll change my mind in half an hour, don't worry.)

Doubt. It's a powerful thing. Gotta be careful.

almost done...

It's almost Christmas and I'm almost ready! Just a couple last items, and I'll be ready for the big day.

Everything is wrapped.

I am organized.

Yay.

stripes for sibs

The striped towels were a lucky find.
The monogram for each sibling is in a matching font.
Lucky sibs!

believe this...

Believe in Christmas traditions? This family decided to make a special one this year - 5 matching pajama sets. The flannel pants say "believe" in a variety of fonts, and red tshirts say "believe" in white to match one of the fonts.
I think they'll be cute together on Christmas morning!

Christmas Quiz

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. Environmentally awful, I know - but colorful and cute under the tree.

2. Tree--Real or Artificial? REAL. Love the hunt, (Shawn and I usually find one in the first 5) and love the smell.

3. When do you put Christmas tree up? Try and do it the weekend after Thanksgiving, but it all depends on when we can get the tree, weather, etc. This year it was the Sunday after.

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually after New Year's. We'll see how long it lasts this year - the problem with real trees is the whole drying out/ needle dropping thing. ugh.

5. Like eggnog? Nope!

6. Do you have a nativity scene? Yep- one kinda ugly one piece thing given to me as a wedding present, and a Little People one for the kids to play with. I'd like to eventually get one I like - maybe Willow Tree or something, but haven't splurged yet.

7. Favorite gift received as a child? My open hole flute is memorable, though that wasn't really from childhood. From my younger years... some of my mom's handmade dolls.

8. Hardest person to buy for? My brothers-in-law. ugh. Thank goodness we're not buying for each other this year. What a pain. Love them, just IMPOSSIBLE to shop for.

9. Easiest person to buy for? My kids & nieces. Other than that, my mom I guess.

10. Worst Christmas gift? I won't get into all the awful teacher gifts. OK. Maybe I will. Brass monkey bookends. Seriously a WEIRD choice from a mom who I thought knew me better than that. Either that or the homemade candle that smelled like cigarette smoke.

11. Mail or email a Christmas card? Mail, I'm a sucker for tradition. This year we might just send a picture not even a letter or card. Breaking with tradition. yikes.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? ummmm.... does Little Women count? There's some pretty great scenes at Christmas time.

15. Favorite food to eat on Christmas? Mint chocolate!!!

16. Lights on tree? Yep. White this year, but I'm hoping they die soon so we can get colored.

17. Favorite Christmas Song? to sing, to listen, hmmm... Do I have to pick just one? Dona Nobis Pacem, Joy to the World (if I'm singing with a strong bass), Angels We Have Heard on High, For Unto Us a Child is Born, Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming, All I Want for Christmas is a Real Good Tan, O Holy Night

18. Travel during Christmas or Stay home? STAY HOME! Basically. Luckily my parents live only 15 minutes away so we can go over there after we open our own presents. And the weekend after we are travelling to Michigan.

19. Can you name Santa's reindeer's? Donner, Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Rudolph (thanks to Pottery Barn for the cute dishes to remind me!)

20. Angel or Star on Tree top? Brass lit star

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Only in the morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The Hippo song. Cold weather. Rude people.

23. Favorite ornament? My Raggedy Ann ornament

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? A trip with JUST my hubby. Wii Music.