My 100

Thanks Heather and Rayette for the inspiration-I could not resist making my own list. I hope others do it too! (after re-reading I noticed I numbered screwy...apparently it is really hard to count backwards from one hundred...this list now has more than that)


100. I am a neat freak I strongly believe the saying “a place for everything and everything in its place”.

99. I always wanted to learn sign language.

98. I have never been outside of the U.S. (other than Tijuana, and I personally don’t think that counts).

97. I am not a big fan of video games. I am not good at them and am somewhat spastic when it comes to hand eye coordination.

96. I love the scriptures particularly the Book of Mormon and read them everyday (except for when I am moving out of state, which is no excuse but it has sure wreaked havoc on my routine).

95. I have lived in exactly 7 different states.

94. I hope to someday master the difference between effect and affect.

95. I really love to use commas, and know that I do it all wrong, and I know that it drives some people crazy, but I hope, that you will tolerate it anyway, and just know that that is the way I am, I am just not wired right.

94. I have a huge blemish (a.k.a zit) on my cheek/jawbone . Makes me mad.

93. I love books-- everything about them makes me happy. I love the smell of a new book, I love to thumb through them and let the swish of the air blow against my face. I love to look at the pictures before I even read them. I love to curl up with my kiddos and read a good book and imagine far off places and interesting characters. I also love to wander through a bookstore. I have always thought it would be so cool to own a children’s book store like the one in You’ve Got Mail.
92. I am silly, especially when I get tired.

93. I value friends as family. Once a friend always a friend.

92. I value humor more than beauty.

91. I am not always comfortable expressing myself. It is one thing I hope to overcome.

90. I am seldom pleased with projects after I finish.

89. I once met and hugged President Kimball.

88. I was raised by a wonderful single mother, who’s job I did not appreciate nearly enough until I had children of my own.

87. My mom had five children and then 17 years later had me. I was not a surprise either. She had two miscarriages before finally having me. She had a lot of complications during her pregnancy and was actually told I was a boy and that I had downs syndrome. They were wrong.

86. I am always cold.

85. I won a national photography contest when I was a sophomore in high school.

84. I am scared of driving on the freeway.

83. My worst fear my entire life was my mom dying and leaving me alone.

82. I love to look at catalogs but never really order anything from them.

81. I wanted ten kids. I would have been happy if all of my girls had a twin.

80. I have two nieces older than I am and the several nieces and nephews around my same age. I grew up with them and in general think I am closer to them than my siblings. Once my mom was having a photograph made of all the grandkids and she and my sisters kept telling me to get in the picture, I finally started crying and said “I AM NOT a grandchild”! They all looked at each other like “oh ya, she’s right” and that was that.

79. I detest moving. Ask me again in a few months though cause normally I think it is a great adventure.

78. I don’t like the way scary movies make me feel.

77. I love words. I love to listen to certain people talk just like I would listen to music.

76. I always knew I would be a mother. I was told by my doctor once I may not be able to have children, but I never believed him. It paid off, I managed to have four adorable, brilliant, precious and well loved little girls (I may be slightly biased, but hey, that is my job…right?)

75. Being a mother is the hardest thing I have ever loved.

74. I am still in contact with a friend from fourth grade.

73. My favorite colors have always been blue and purple and then suddenly they changed to red and yellow. I am not sure what happened, but I am almost irritated by blue.

72. I love romantic comedies-- my all time favorites are You’ve Got Mail, Serendipity, Sabrina, and Overboard.

71. I have big feet.

70. I wanted to get my pilots license until I had kids.

69. I got sent to the principal’s office once in second grade. On the school bus home this boy was teasing me really bad and I hit him on the head with a paper sack I was carrying, unfortunately I forgot it had the beautiful rock I brought for show-and-tell in it. It made his head bleed (only a tiny bit). His mom called the office and told on me… the next day on the way to the office he asked me to be his girlfriend and I said yes. All’s well that ends well, right?

68. Every report card I got in elementary school said something about me talking too much. I know, it was a shock to me too.

67. I think it would be fun to have a blackberry, just cause the name is so cute.

66. I am technologically challenged, therefore completely dependant on Rich for those things (which is reason enough for me to NEVER have a blackberry).

65. I love the story Sister Hinckley’s grandson told about her, he was walking past the bathroom and heard her saying to her toothbrush “My, you sure are a handy little gadget”. I learned two things really—1. You should be grateful for every tiny thing and 2. Apparently it is okay to visit with your toothbrush.

64. I loved working in the darkroom in college. Digital photography has completely changed the world of photography and I am not totally sure I love that.

63. I LOVE Café Rio.

62. I play the piano, but seldom tell people that. I can not play in front of people without messing up. I for sure can not accompany singers. I also played the violin and flute.

61. When I was five my favorite songs were “I Can’t Smile Without You” by Barry Manilow and “You Light Up My Life” By Debby Boone. I had a record player and would listen to them all the time.

60. I have a handsome husband (while this statement is completely true, this was Whitney’s suggestion…I know better than posting something like this, he will be mortified).

59. I took typing in school but never really got good at it until I started computering.

58. I was a nursing major in school then I got married and then became a mom and did not finish school, but I hope to someday though even if it means I will be the oldest little nurse there is.

57. I have two brothers and three sisters.

56. I have never really liked my hair.

54. I have never skipped school.

53. I have never gone toilet papering.

52. I love music. I have a large repertoire of favorites…everything from Bach to Nickelback.

51. I used to collect stickers. I had tons of them. My favorites were some scratch and sniff Halloween ones that smelled like patchouli.

50. I love the smell of sandalwood.

49. I have green eyes.

48. I am crazy about Disney World.

47. I love Jelly Beans.

46. I think I am almost over my obsession with Sun Chips.

45. I could eat at Taco Bell every day of my life.

44. I would rather spend my vacation in a cabin in the woods than on the beach any day.

43. I look forward to General Conference as much as I look forward to my favorite holiday.

42. I love ice cream with caramel in it.

41. I like to sew, but I am a little bit impatient…I like to see results faster than I can sew.

40. I love babies.

39. I married my best friend and I am lucky that he still is. It was the best decision I have ever made.

38. Someday I hope to go to Europe.

37. I want to serve at least one mission when Rich retires.

36. All my furniture has little green stickers on it from the movers. That is the kids job tomorrow to find all the stickers they can. Maybe we will make it a contest.

35. I was bald as can be as a baby.

34. My dad was not a very big part of my life.

33. I carry a camera with me everywhere I go.

32. I was a licensed EMT for a few years.

31. I do not have a cell phone. I may be the only person over 8 years old that doesn’t, but unfortunately, it’s the truth.

30. I don’t watch very much television.

29. Once I saw a lady get arrested in the grocery store. After they had hauled her away I noticed there was a tiny little boy who had been hiding behind a stack of some thing crying for his mommy, and it was her. It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen.

28. I never ditched seminary.

27. I was a really good speller in school.

26. I love cook books.

25. I have never watched any of the Star Wars movies.

24. One of my favorite days was with my friend Cami, when we went to NYC and saw Wicked and ate at some little Italian restaurant at like 11:30 PM in little Italy. It was a wonderful day I will never forget.

23. I am a homebody. I love being at home with my kids and doing the things moms do.

22. I love to write in my journal every night about the things I have been blessed with that day. It has made me more aware and more grateful for even the tiniest things.

21. I am shy sometimes. I prefer smaller more intimate groups than large get- togethers.

20. I love a good steak or prime rib.

19. I used to ski.

18. I love to play boggle.

17. I have played Apples to Apples more times than I care to count. Whitney loved that game for a long time and now Rylie loves it. I don’t think I would be sad if I didn’t have to play it for fifteen years.

16. I am a little bit quirky.

15. I love movies. And I love popcorn at the movies.

14. I am so grateful for the gospel and all that I have because of it.

13. My family is the most precious thing on the earth to me.

12. My favorite number is 27.

11. I wish I had my own private jet that could fly me to visit my friends whenever I wanted, or bring them to visit me whenever they wanted.

10. I love American Idol.

9. It bugs me to death when people say “O” for zero. Zero is a number not a letter.

8. I have never ever wished to be rich.

7. I walked a half-marathon and it was very empowering. It was the biggest athletic accomplishment in my entire life and it was just last year.

6. I am very reflective. I like to ponder and think about things and conversations long after they have occurred. I am not the person to talk to if you want something forgotten. I remember little details about people and appreciate when others do the same.

5. I love to people watch and am very interested in people, even those I do not know. I think everyone has a story to tell and something worth sharing.

4. I love Primary Songs.

3. I love to hear kids laugh. It makes me giggle out loud. I am also a sympathetic crier. When people are sad I cry with them. Interesting side note, after my mom died, I didn’t cry for almost three years.

2. I have never had a desire to go on a cruise. Never.

1. Oddly enough, I enjoyed making this list.

The Perks

One of the perks of living in Utah (and let me assure you there are many...) is that you get to go to things like this. We went to the Young Women Broadcast tonight and it was amazing. We rode TRAX right down to temple square and then walked to the conference center, presented our lovely ticket and went right in. Just like that. We didn't have to drive for a million hours, we didn't have to catch a plane, we didn't even break a sweat (maybe cause it is cold outside...). Very little effort and very huge reward. That's not the normal balance of things and definitely not something you get everyday!

It was a wonderful conference. I loved what the general YW presidency had to say. We were fortunate to have President Eyring as the final speaker. Anyone who knows me well knows of my love for him. I love to sit and listen to him any chance I get and tonight was my chance. I was treated to just the message I needed to buoy me up until the next time. I am so grateful for inspired leaders and all that they do to prepare and to teach us.

Here is Tori on the train


Here are all the leaders and YW from our ward. Not a large group, but what they lack in size they make up for in friendliness.


Inside the building by a beautiful statue


Walking past the SLC temple. I could get used to this!

Home Sweet Home

I am too exhausted to be very clever with this post. But I wanted to update and let everyone know we are still alive. We are in our house and trying hard to get settled. We are mostly done and even have our pictures hanging on the walls. We are just down to the last little things that don’t really have a place...its frustrating me to death. We are doing well and just got our internet turned on yesterday so now we feel official.

We really like our new house. Some of you know we had not seen it in person before we moved in, but luckily, I think it turned out great. We have amazing views of Mount Timpanogos and the Utah Lake. We can sit on our bed and watch the lights of Utah County twinkle. We are blessed to be here.

The ward seems friendly, very LARGE and very very young. There were about ten thousand crying babies during sacrament meeting, which is wonderful (not that they were crying, but that they were there)but compared to our ward in Omaha, it was very loud and energetic! People seemed excited that we were from Omaha. Everyone either knew someone from there or has driven through there or something…

So we are here, we are exhausted, we are happy, but honestly I miss Omaha more than I can even say.

We're Here

We are here in Utah at Rich's sister's house. It was the longest drive in the world...we were tired before we even left so 18 hours of driving was l-o-n-g!

Anyway, we are here and happy and healthy and happy and tired and happy and, well, you get the idea.

Have a great day.

On The Road--Literally

We are literally driving down the road. I have the laptop on my lap in the passenger side of the car. good thing it is not the drivers seat huh? Anyway, we are on our way to Utah. Isn't technology amazing.

Thank you all so much for your well wishes and well, everything. We will miss everyone alot!

I have to go so I can get back to being the assistant driver. I am sure Rich is missing my help...(ya right, he just told me to stop looking up and just type, am I nervous passenger?)

Unplugged

The movers are coming tomorrow to pack.

Rich just came upstairs where I was packing the girls clothes for the next week and said "well, I unplugged everything..." I am not sure I heard what he said after that because in this house when the electronics are unplugged, you know something is really happening.

I think that means that we are moving and I think it is happening tomorrow. Wow.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Today is Rich's mamma's birthday. The natural thing to say right here would be “I have grown to love her”, but that would not be the truth. For me it was instant I have not had to "grow" to love her. I don’t think anyone has to do that. She is amazingly sweet and tender and is devoted to her family in a way that is beyond comprehension.

When Rich and I were first married I would tell people lovingly that my mother-in-law was like Mary Poppins. And it is true. She is delightful and positive and SINGS all the time. She has a million songs that she can hum and sing while doing work and while playing. She can make any task more enjoyable with her sweet demeanor.

I have a few wonderful memories of her (well, more than a few...) one was a silly thing- we were shopping together at the mall. We would walk along and then kind of stop and stare at each other and then eventually we would get going again...finally one of us said "what are we doing?" and we both laughed...I thought I was following her lead and she thought she was following my lead...but neither of us was leading, we were both wandering around thinking "what are we doing"… We still chuckle about that to this day.

The other one was before Rich and I married we went to his brothers mission farewell. Rich's mom sang "Oh That I Were and Angel" and it was BEAUTIFUL! It was the first time that I saw Rich cry. I asked him "what's the matter" and all he could say was "that’s my mom". It was so simple, but so touching.

She has had a profound effect on me. I look to her for examples of many things. I am one of the few that did not gain a mother-in-law when I got married...I gained another mom and a friend. Happy Birthday mom, We all love you.

10 Signs Dad Is HOME!!!!

1. The desk is COVERED in electronic gadgets....


2. We have three new Webkinz and a new i Pod docking station (which he got on clearance, whoo-hoo!) all gifts for the girls



3.The elders were able to come for dinner...


4.I am NOT scraping the walkway...



5.The empty spot on the couch is full...


6. The i Pod was un-messed-up a lot faster(and with a lot fewer tears)...


7. The reassuring WHIRRRR of the Vita-Mix and the sweet taste of smoothies...




8. The familiar sound of sports fills the house...



9. Four happy kiddos...


10.One happy me...


So there you have it,a day in review... We are enjoying having Rich home!

Guess Who's Comin' to Breakfast

Early this morning I called the girls in to set the table. I always put the dishes on the bar and then they put them on the table. Nothing different this morning, except there were six place settings. Tori just left the "extras" on the counter without so much as a pause...

Then when our breakfast was out of the oven I said "Okay we're ready, can someone please go get daddy"-- Strange looks and blank stares from everyone.

"Mom, dads not here" They said in an I-think-she's-finally-lost-it kind of way.

"Well, why dont you go check"

Instant recognition from Tori, she was up those stairs faster than you can imagine. With that Paige caught on and perked up just as Rich and Tori came down the stairs! Then mass pandamonium. The girls were thrilled. Jumping up and down and hugging and clapping and sqeeling like I have never seen.
Here they are after they had calmed enough to sit down...


It took a lot of effort (and quit a few bit toungues)to pull this one off. I have known for about 10 days that Rich was coming. We thought it would be a super fun surprise for the girls so we plotted and planned how we could do it. Luckily his flight came in really late so we could easily pull off our plan of hiding him 'til morning. Only problem was I could not think of a way to get out of the house alone that late at night. Then the answer fell into my lap when Sister Fredricks asked me to set up the centerpieces for the stake enrichment meeting Friday night at 9:00PM! Perfect! So I got the kids all set up with a movie in the basement and I left.

After setting up I headed to the airport. The plan was to smuggle Rich in when I got home and then do what we did this morning. Paige called me 10 minutes before Rich's plane was to land and said she could not sleep...I thought oh well, she will still be surprised even if she is still awake when we get home it will be okay. Then what do you know...flight delay and then you guessed it, lost luggage. So after the extra hour and a half (or possibly more) at the airport we had it in the bag.

We got home, kids were sound asleep and had NO idea he was here. When we got up we went about our day completely like normal (poor Rich had to hide in my closet a couple times cause kiddos went upstairs) and then just when right moment came...WHAMO!

I think this will go down as the best surprise EVER! We are thrilled to have Rich here for three glorious weeks (thanks to his perceptive boss who could tell he missed his family and suggested he work from here for three weeks...). Welcome home babe! We've missed you.