Challenge #2

Ummmm. Don't mind me.  It's only taken me 5 months, almost 6, to write number 2.  I don't know how life gets so busy!!!  So many great things have been going on.  I need to be better about posting.  Ugh. :(

Oh well. On to the second challenge:  Name 3 legitimate fears and why I have them.

1. Number one is easy.  I hate and fear SPIDERS.  They creep me out.  I have feared them for as long as I can remember.  Many many moons ago my two sisters, Brenda and Nancy, and I shared a room.  We had a bunk bed and a double bed.  I, being the youngest princess, got the double bed.  One night I remember them reading nursery rhymes to me.  You know the one... "Little Miss Muffet.."  Ya. Scared me to death.  Then my loving and kind older sisters made a paper spider.  They hung it from the bookshelf that was above my bed.  I had to sleep under that spider all night.  I hate spiders.  I'm not a big fan of Miss Muffet either, although I can relate to her like no other.

2. My second fear is not much of a fear any more.  I guess you could say that I have conquered it.  I do feel that it is important to mention though.  I have always had a fear of water and drowning.  I was never a good swimmer when I was little.  I'm still not the best, but I do better than when I was younger.  I did have some swim lessons, but being in the water always made me nervous.  I hated when kids played around in the water-- that dunking game freaked me out.  Once at girls camp I got trapped under an air mattress for what seemed like an eternity.  Luckily I was able to kick my way out (seriously I bruised a lot of girls' legs) and get some air.  It was traumatizing.  However, I was lucky enough to have a good friend introduce me to lap swimming when I was a young mom.  Best thing ever.  I finally learned how to do a decent freestyle stroke and little bit of breaststroke.  I learned to enjoy the peace and solitude of swimming.  I never wanted my children to grow up with a fear of the water... so many swimming lessons and years of swim team have kept that fear from them.

3. My third fear is a little harder to admit.  My family has to deal with this, so I better be up front.  I have a fear of car wrecks.  A few years back I was rear-ended in my suburban.  It was a pretty hard hit-- it bent the frame of the burb.  I had some serious whiplash-- unfortunately I saw the truck coming for me in the rear view mirror, so I (stupidly) braced myself for the impact.  Not the wisest choice for my neck.  There was a lot of pain involved and I don't think my neck will ever be the same.  So now... I'm a freak when I'm in the passenger seat and there is traffic.  It causes more anxiety than I could have ever imagined.  Thank goodness that I can entertain distract myself with electronic gadgets!  Thank you iPhone and iPad.  For the record Jim hasn't ever wrecked with me in the car.  I really try not to be such a freak, but sometimes my anxiety and fear get the best of me.  Sorry family.

I'm sure I could list more fears.  But those are the ones I can think of right now.  I best be getting to bed lest my fear of missing work or being late to work becomes real!!  :)

A series of 30 things... number 1

I came across a great idea on Pinterest.  As a matter of fact, I think I've come across thousands of great ideas on Pinterest!! LOL!

This one was especially good because I've been feeling bad about my lack of posting on this here blog.  With facebook, instagram, and twitter, I feel like blogging has just been shoved to the back of the fridge.  Where the scary things are....  You know what I mean?

So here it goes.  I don't know how long it will take me, or if it will even be of interest to anyone, but I thought these were good things that my kids should know about me.  So kids, you should probably read this.  The rest of you are most definitely invited to read as well, but maybe you will want to encourage your mom to write these or maybe you'll write them for your kids.  I would love to have had my mom's answers to these 30 things.

Here's the link in case you want to see where we are going:  (Don't look if you want to be surprised!)
http://www.babymakingmachine.com/2012/11/30-things-my-kids-should-know-about-me.html

Here we go! And I really hope to finish this challenge I've given myself.  Enjoy!

1.  List 20 Random Facts About Yourself

1.  I love ice cream. Especially vanilla.
2.  Blue is my favorite color. Any shade.
3. I wanted to be a teacher since the 1st grade. Or maybe even before, but that's when I remember it the most.
4. I enjoy reading, cooking, and sewing but I don't know which I like the most!
5.  Even though I try to act like I'm not, I'm competitive. I like to win. :o
6.  I hate fishing. I don't really like fish either. But I love 'Finding Nemo'!
7.  Please don't touch my feet. Or look at them. Or talk about them.  Feet are gross.
8.  I love technology and learning how to do new things and having new gadgets.
9.  Lake of the Woods, Oregon is my most favorite place on earth. I wish I had a cabin there.
10.  I love being a mom. I always wanted to be a mom.  Playing 'house' was my favorite activity as a child.
11.  I love music.  Just about every genre.  (Rap just isn't my favorite. I can't handle the bad language.)
12.  I loathe talk radio.  Turn on some music please.
13.  I like to be early or on time.  I hate being late.
14.  I love, love breakfast for dinner.
15.  I love to laugh. I enjoy witty people and I laugh at appropriate sarcasm. ;)
16.  I miss my parents fiercely.  (Even typing that makes me tear up!)
17.  Christmas is my favorite holiday.
18.  I enjoy watching sports, but I don't really like playing sports. Shocker, right?
19.  I'm happiest when my house is clean, but I hate cleaning.
20.  I don't have a favorite child.  I really like (love) them all.

Mufasa

Many, many years ago-- seriously, like in the 70's-- my family was on a trip. At least I think we were. I have a pretty good memory, but the trip part could be my imagination!!

Anyway. We went to a fabric store. My older sister, nancy, saw a fabric panel with a lion. Now, if you don't know my sister you must understand that she has always been the unique one. She was a tomboy-- that always had lots of boyfriends-- she loves, LOVES animals. This girl cried in 'King Kong' and laughed in 'Jaws'.

So, wanting a fabric lion head was no shock to any of us. I don't remember if it was going to be a wall hanging or a quilt, but it was purchased.

And seeing as how it wasn't a huge priority-- it sat on a shelf waiting to be sewn. It sat so long, it was long forgotten.

Fast forward 30 years. Upon our cleaning out closets after our dad passed away-- I pulled out this gem. We all had a good laugh and I took him home hoping to finish what my mom had planned to do.

It didn't happen quickly. But finally, Mufasa lives!!! I decided on a design and got this baby finished, almost in time for Nancy's 50th birthday.

I'm pretty sure she loved it. I kinda love it too!!! Even for a lion head....

Sweet Sixteen

Happy Birthday Andrea!!

I can hardly believe it's been 16 years since I begged (not kidding, I totally had to BEG) my doctor into inducing me so that you wouldn't be born on my birthday...

--yes, call me stingy if you'd like, but with 5 kids, I didn't want to share my birthday if I could help it!!!

Luckily my doctor obliged and hooked up the pitocin!! The adventure was really started on the 24th, but Andrea for sure wanted everyone to know she would not be bosses around like that!! She didn't come until the 25th. (Sunny side up-- different then her four older siblings who arrived normal style, but all with cords wrapped around their necks!)

Our lives have never been the same!! This girl has ruled our household since the day she arrived. :). And we all love her to death! We would be lost without her!
She brings so much love and fun into our home (that is after she eventually stopped crying about and for everything!!-lol)

We all love you Andrea!! You are the perfect baby to our family :)

Happy birthday!!

March MADness

I'm totally caught up in the madness of March!! My entire brackets don't look as pretty as my Midwest bracket..... I wish they did!!

Only dumb Missouri blew it!! Lets go DUKE!!

As of tonight, 6/8 for the elite eight. 3/4 for the final four!! And both my teams for the final game are still in!!! Holla!!!

:)

Sundays

This is totally my new gig.

Every Sunday you can find me visiting a primary (the children's classes) in some ward in my stake!!

Today being St. Patrick's Day was especially fun... Who can resist orange and green mustaches?? Not me!!

Even though I haven't been in my own ward for weeks-----pretty sure people think my kids have no mother, or I'm inactive---- I do enjoy my new calling as the Stake Primary President. It's pretty sweet. The children are always so cute.

And I get to work with some pretty amazing ladies too!! Seated beside me are my two counselors and a member of our board. The Brunette secretary and other board members were visiting a different ward!! (Totally not on purpose, but it's how it turned out.)

A lovely, lovely St. Patty's Day!!

:)

Victory!

A wonderful weekend in Napa, the "fatherland," was made even better when the littlest brother beat the biggest brother in ping pong. 2 out of 3 proves it wasn't just luck!!

Good job Jim! It was a great game to watch!

I smell Spring

I love this time of the year. I have Spring fever like no other. This fever usually comes over me because I am sick of wearing my winter shoes. I prefer to be barefoot or in flip flops any day.... I'm just tired of the whole socks, shoes, and cold feet.

So the sun has been shining, the temperatures rising, and I am so excited!!

These two cuties are super excited for spring too!!! Can't you tell?

Chubby Bunnies

I have tried many ways to post this!! I am sorry for the delay.

Every mother deserves to watch her kids play CHUBBY BUNNIES :)

It doesn't take a lot to entertain us.  We were all very entertained.  

Riley and Kevin. You guys are awesome!

New Tradition

 On January 1st, we headed to the Pacific Ocean.  We camped-- yes in January we camped!!-- at Rufugio State Beach which is just north of Santa Barbara.  It is an incredible beach to camp at.  You are literally right on the beach.  It was awesome.  Well, most of it was awesome.

 Watching the kids and Jim play football on the beach was awesome.

 Riley still celebrating the new year was awesome.

Okay. no it wasn't.

Too bad he lost that squeaky thing. (prayers were answered!)

 The sunset was AWESOME!!

I just couldn't take enough pictures of this. The sky was on fire. It was so beautiful.

 This was awesome.

 Have you met my awesome daughter, the writer?

Chilling with these two was awesome.

 Lunch on the beach. Awesome.

We loved having Kevin & Jessica with us. The weather during the day was incredible.  I can't like. The night was not awesome.  The wind blew and blew and it was soooo cold. I froze all night.  Not my favorite camping night. The days were so nice.

 Look close.  Jim and Marissa switched places!

We loved this trip so much we've decided it should be a tradition.  A new tradition.

Perfect way to start the new year :)

And this.  The Wagners are so competitive...

Ready?

It'll be posted tomorrow!!

Christmas in February?

 Okay. So I'm a little late.  Blogging has been hard for me lately...  I blame it on the smartphone and all of my favorite apps!  However, I need to be better, because since I absolutely never scrapbook anymore, this is our family history in a nutshell.  So bear with me as I play a little catch up!

Christmas was wonderful, like always.  When my kids were little it was all about their excitement and wonder at the magic during the season.  As my kids have gotten older, Christmas has changed.  Some traditions have stuck, some have been left behind.  Traditions are an ever changing phenomenon.  New ones are born, old ones die, and we just keep moving forward.

As my kids have gotten older, I think Christmas brings a lot of showers of memories. This opens the door for much reflection! There are so many great memories AND we have so much to look forward to!  This year was no exception.  We had a wonderful season.

 Thank goodness for our SF Giants!!  Everyone, and that includes Jessica and Ben, got a World Series t-shirt.  We couldn't resist a big shout out to our family's favorite team. (As we speak, we can't really say that for the SF 49er's.)

 Riley is really happy to up and opening presents.  :)

 We were blessed to have Marissa, Jacquie, and Ben home with us for Christmas Day.  We were thrilled to have them and Ben was a great sport with all of our craziness!  We even took everyone to see Les Mis on Christmas afternoon. It was awesome :)

 The kids showered Jim with some of his favorite things.  He always says that it's not Christmas if you don't have Ritz crackers, sausage, and cheese! :)

One gift I absolutely loved was making Ben a t-shirt quilt!!  He has envied Jacquie's t-shirt quilt for a long time so now he has his very own.  I hope it keeps him warm in the bitter Rexburg cold!!!


Christmas was awesome. It always is! We loved every single minute of it.  We can forget the fact that I didn't get one gift wrapped until the 22nd of December.... Or the projects that didn't get quite done.... Or all the goodies that we didn't bake.... Or the pumpkin pie that we forgot to eat on Christmas Day...

They were good times with the people I love the most. :)

Hungry?

These 2 don't like school holiday!!

They have to wait longer for breakfast!!

Addiction

I apologize for my lack of blog posts...

Christmas was wonderful.  I have a lot of pictures to post.

Through the holidays I gained a new addiction.  It has put me behind in many projects. Thus the blog being on the back, back, back burner.

Oh Downton.

I'm so so addicted.

Some addiction is good.  I say this one is!!!

I am happy to announce that my addiction to Diet Coke is done.  I'm clean.  I've been clean for multiple weeks. I even order water when eating out.  I know.  CRAZY.  I probably should have had you sit down before announcing that!!

If you haven't watched Downton Abbey.  Do it.  

IT IS WORTH EVERY MINUTE!!

Family Home Evening

This was awesome!!

I love technology!! How great to have the whole family together :)