A Warning

In order to ease my conscience, I am sending out a warning to you that I should have given to my neighbor yesterday. I was leaving to run some errands yesterday evening and while getting into my car noticed that my neighbor standing next to his black pickup truck, in the heat, was reading the directions to this:



As I drove away, having said nothing, I knew I should have shared the experience we had growing up using this on my dad's truck one hot day. Basically, the stuff had cooked on!! I have never dared to use wax on a car (or anywhere else) since. I had a good laugh thinking about it... and then a good cry at the misery I could have prevented.

Tagged: list of fours

You know the drill. Copy, fill in your answers and tag 4 friends.
4 jobs I've had
1. housekeeper
2. custodian
3. Dental Assistant
4. Dental hygienist

4 Movies I can watch over and over
1. Life is Beautiful
2. My Life
3. Napoleon Dynamite
4. Secondhand Lions

4 Places I have lived
1. Price, Ut
2. Provo, UT
3. Logan, UT
4. Maricopa, AZ

4 Guilty Pleasures
1. doing nothing
2. Reading
3. Blog reading
4. Candy

4 TV shows I watch
1. Arthur
2. Ruff Ruffman
3. between the Lions
4. The Cosby show

4 Places I have been on vacation
1. San Deigo
2. Vermont
3. Seattle
4. Boston

4 Favorite Foods
1. Black Bean Salsa
2. Costco Orange Chicken
3. Cafe Rio Salad
4. fruit

4 websites I visit
1. Blogger
2. Yahoo.
3. Salt lake county library
4. Google

4 Places I'd rather be right now
1. Georgia (visit the sis)
2. Boston
3. in Bed
4. At a BYU sporting event

(I'm adding a few, so Sarah and Allison feel free to add in too)

4 Books you love
1. Bonds that Make us Free
2. Kite Runner
3. Secret Life of Bees
4. To Kill a Mockingbird

4 things you would like to know how to do
1. blog
2. study scriptures
3. be organized
4. be teachable

4 neglected body parts
1. toes
2. Muscles
3. skin
4. Hair

4 things that you worry about
1. my kids education
2. my house
3. my future education and career
4. my lack of creativity

4 happy moments
1. running a marathon
2. playing at 7 peaks with my family
3. Seeing my kids in the morning
4. Chatting with friends or family

4 things you want to do this year or in the future
1. Settle down somewhere (sell our house)
2. go back to school
3. visit my family members back east
4. enter races again, or a triathalon



4 people I'm tagging
1. Elisa
2. Celia
3.Erin Y.
4. Erin R.
4. Angelica
4. Kerry

Is anyone going to see this??

Ok, ok... I have never seen any of his movies, and don't really like him much as a person, but after the frustration resulting from certain experiences (see previous post) I admit I am drawn to it. Maybe I will just stick to the PBS shows tackling similar problems... unless anyone wants to see it.

A Year Ago....

The joy I feel in this milestone is good cause to celebrate by entering the blog world today. Mason has been vomit-less for a solid year now, an amazing feat considering the first 2+ years of his life were spent in a cycle of vomiting and confused family and doctors. We all adapted. doctors brushed it off, and the family always was quick to grab something to catch it all in. Isaiah even adapted well to this, many nights he would catch the results in the bowl stored by Masons bed, and then go back to sleep. Two long years of running when the retching began. He repeatedly marked Becki's house, our apartment, our house and our car. One time marking of territory honors went to Target, Maricopa city library, and our friend in Arizona who had a spotless kitchen. To my amazement, in never occurred at church, the doctors office, or the hospital (until the end). Oh how many times I just prayed it would happen at the doctors office, so the doctors could understand that I and the rest of the family weren't overreacting.
Anyhow, here is how the healing went down... quickly. For years, as I have mentioned we lived with this, ever since he was born. He would be sick for a week or two and then ok. For those years we saw doctors, ran tests, saw specialists, gave him all sorts of meds, had him in the hospital for dehydration... etc, etc. As we were getting ready to move to Arizona our wonderful Doctor at BYU, Dr. Joy Patten, had really done a lot of research and sketched out quite the plan of what she wanted tested and pretty much anything it could be. When we got to Arizona, and it hit again, I went to a new doctors office and had a physicians assistant run some of the suggested tests. One night he called with some results and told us to head to the hospital. He suggested Phoenix Children's... which really was our life saver. After a week of being there and being frustrated with the lack of answers.... again, we pretty much insisted that he be released so we could go home. As we were packing up to leave Mason finally did it and threw up in front of the staff. They had caught the gift in a bed pan, and were able to measure that the 2 1/2 cups that I had been measuring for a year now was no exaggeration. We stayed, and a wonderful resident doctor tracked down the GI specialist who requested an upper GI radiograph be taken (we had done this 2 times already, with "nothing significant" showing), I was skeptical, but they did it... and wala.. they found his lower intestine was folded over on top of itself (a volvus). Emergency surgery was done, recover was slow... but we have our little boy healthy and strong. I can't believe the change in a year, and really don't know how we got through the others (It really is so hard to see a little one sick and not be able to do anything).
So tonight I hold an extra thanks in my heart for my family who was so empathetic, Dr. Patten who kept trying, Isaiah for being so patient and helpful thru it all, Phoenix childrens who had keen Radiologists, Dr. Shub the GI specialist, who won't take anyones word for diagnosis again; the resident Dr. who tracked Dr. Shub down, Dr. Nortrica and Dr. Bryce who did the surgery; My mom who babysat during the long days and the hospital and after; Clint for getting my through the breakdowns; Mason for being so tough and brave through it all; and that sweet baby Ruby who eased my stress as I held her during those days at the hospital; and God for helping everything to fall into place. Heres to another healthy year! Good job everyone.

Mason today---

Starting anew

I guess it really doesn't feel like such a fresh start. Maybe it is that we still have the house in Arizona, but I think it is more than that. I think that Arizona had the kind of effect on our family that makes it more of a stepping stone than something from the past. I miss it, but not too much right now (I know there will be days for that). All in all things here the first week have gone well. We spent Sunday night with my mom, Monday unloading the truck, Tuesday thru Friday slowly unpacking and trying to figure out where all this stuff came from and where it is going to go. Today my family came over for lunch and to swim. Very nice. Tomorrow will be church. Isaiah is excited at the prospects of being able to meet new friends and has been talking about that in his prayers for days now. What would we do without the social network of the church?
A few lessons learned in the first week:

1. The lack of heat (unlike the arizona right now) from the sun in Utah can be deceiving. I have a sunburn from today. I don't think I ever got one in Arizona.
2. The cafe Rios in Utah are better than in Arizona. When we lived there I just thought I was getting used to the taste and it was getting old. Nope, delicious!
3. It is so nice to have family around.

We are soooooo thankful for all the help we got with our move. It was well over 101 the days we loaded the truck in Arizona, and I don't know how we ever would have gotten the washer and dryer up the stairs without Clints brother Kirk. And all the help in between. Wow, I just don't know how other people do it.

Right now I have no idea where the camera is, but when I find it I will post some picts from the move and of the new place.

Chaos in Arizona and my mind

Well I am down to my last week here. I am in some serious denial, which makes packing hard, there is just a part of me that holds back. I am making progress though, and by Monday I should be cleaning and shutting down most of the rooms so I only have a few to do next week when the real chaos hits. I have been wanting to do a post about our little town in Arizona is like for awhile, but it is going to take more time than I had hoped, so I think for now I will just touch on a few things I will miss.
1. The ward. I have been working with the cub scouts, and in the primary presidency. I love the people I serve with and "for".
I leave presidency meetings feeling rejuvenated. I had no idea what I was walking into when I said "sure" to working with 8 and 9 year old boys, or taking on the primary. Both were new territory. Its what I love about callings, you go in just thinking you will give it a try and people usually appreciate that.. because they have no choice really. So I have learned the cub scout motto, about patches, belt loops, achievements, beads, pack night, pinewood derby, sharing time, conducting, etc. etc. How I will miss it. I was skeptical of the ward in the beginning, as people did not seem too friendly to the new family (us), what I did not know then was that we were part of a constant flow of new families, so it was hard to get a welcome, because everyone else was new too. Through play-groups, callings, kids, visiting teaching I have felt welcomed and love these people.
2. A new community, away from the town. I get sick when I am in the city. I feel so small and insignificant. Being out here (about 45 miles from phoenix) was an automatic comfort to me. People are trying to build a community, and it is fun to be a part of growing recreation programs, libraries, and expansion. I appreciate the sense of ownership it creates in those who care... though I admit that that is not everyone.
3. Recycling. I have never lived in a community with a local recycling center (at least one that I knew of). The one here was started as a non-profit by a lady. It is only open on Sat. (though you can arrange for a can pick up), so I head down there on Saturdays and with a volunteer sort out my recyclables. I am amazed at how much I can recycle.
4. Being out on our own. I do love family, there is no doubt. But there is something about being out on your own and having to rely on your own immediate family, start your own traditions. I didn't have much time to do well at it, but I have tasted enough of it, to work for it now.
5. Ikea. I know Utah is getting one, but it just won't be the same. This was always on our list of to sees when we had company... I don't know its just so big and cool, and the cheap good food is such a bonus.
6. Being in a place you don't know. The sense of adventure it creates that you need to discover a whole new state. Where do you hike, take your kids, do on a saturday, are there unique places to eat?? Again I didn't do so great, but do think that I will do better at appreciating adventure because our time here was so short.
7. Being a distance cougar fan. The Y on the back windshield of my car is like a secret symbol beckoning other fan to nod in appreciation. Traveling (2 games) to see the team is a different feel that just walking up to the home stadium.
8. Intel. I know Clint had to deal with not liking this every day, but from my end working for the big company was nice. Nice benefits, bonuses, and hours. What more can a wife ask... oh yeah, for her husband to like it.
9. The warmth.. the several months of the perfect about of warm make up for the couple of hot. I don't feel the same about the one (maybe) month of perfect warm and several months of drawn out cold in Utah.

I think that is enough for now. Giving Utah credit, I am excited to be by family, be by the mountains, enjoy some of the food (Cafe Rio, and Fresh food Junkies come to mind), Clint being happy with his job, and the chance to de-junk while I pack (again). Here we come... if I can make it through this week. Stay tuned.

Whats behind a name?

One of the top concerns I hear when people are nervous about starting a blog is "what will I write about", "what will the name of my blog be?" etc. I just say go with it, the ideas will come. That being said, I did ask myself these questions before setting up a personal blog (I had already been involved in my family blog) because I wanted to know if it would be worth the effort and time it would take... so these are the reasons why I went ahead and took the plunge.
1. I had a lot of friends I wanted to reconnect with in a way that would allow me to check in on them and at least have some contact when there had been little or none.
2. I had seen that there are many cool things that can be done on the blog, and I want to learn how to do them. So far I have only been refreshed on saving and posting images, and posting links, but I have a big list waiting.
3. I wanted to be seen as cool by my peers.
4. Most important, I wanted to be more mindful of my day to day activities, and thoughts (thus the name of the blog). Something about the blog makes this more exciting than a journal. maybe the pictures, maybe the interaction.. something.
I have thought often about needing to be more mindful, intentional living, pushing myself to do something hard everyday.. (all names for the same idea I have in my head for quite sometime) and I think the blog, in a way, is helping me to accomplish at least a little bit of doing that.

Books by the bedside

I wanted to get the pictures of these books off my desktop, de-clutter a bit if you will, so I am posting about them before I am done with them. These are the books that I am reading right now.




Yes all at the same time. I have a bad habit of feast and famine with books. I tend to get interested in an idea and then a couple more and can't decide which to read about and so I get a bit on each. The problem with this is that I don't think I get the complete picture of each individual book because the concepts in each start to blend. I guess in some ways this is actually good, because maybe it expands the idea set out by the author. I don't know if anyone else has this problem ... except Jill, I know she does. I just thought I should post about it so that my posterity would know why I am all over the place in my thinking.

Some media plugs

I will preface this by saying I am not big into t.v., movies etc. and so by suggesting the following I am in no way saying that I am an expert in the field, I am just sharing with you what feels right.

This American Life is a radio program on NPR, that usually has 2-3 segments on a different subject each week. Its a may be a good introduction into what NPR has to offer. Showtime has now picked this show up and made a weekly show of it. I know that this is a sore spot for some fans, the host Ira Glass talked about being booed about it by his audience, but you can check out the opening episode for free on sho.com. I liked it. One reason being that I can remember exactly where I was when I heard the radio broadcast about the first episode on the show, and I was pretty close on everything I envisioned. The next t.v. episode looks interesting and has some Utah links, but I think you have to have showtime for that one.


TV land has these interviews with comedians, and I checked out the Jon Stewart interview the other night and really liked it. Seeing interviews like this help me think that dinner parties with the right people could be so fun! Here is the link, though I have no idea how to make it work right now.
http://www.tvland.com/originals/sitdown/season2/sitdown_bios_Jon.jhtml




NPR. I know that this is getting ridiculous, but so many of you commented that you haven't heard NPR or of it, so I am just going to tell you try it. I tried the other day to get a short list of things to sample, its very hard, I like so many programs. I would say that Saturday Edition, Market Report, Wait, wait don't tell me, the diane rheam show (hit and miss), science friday are some of the most popular. You can download it all at itunes or from their site. Its well worth looking into. You can browse the site, but you really need to listen to get the feel. The web site has a station finder and that may be your best bet. I plan on sending some of you links to shows I think you may find interesting as I hear them, until then you are on your own.
http://www.npr.org/

Also If you need to move, get out of your shell a bit I have to push pulling out the playstation and letting loose with a little dance revolution and guitar hero. I have only played these games in the company of familly and it will stay that way. But I love, love, love them.


That is all.

Tagged

I really had wanted to be more consistent on this blog than I had been on my family one, but life has a way....
I do have a stash of pictures I have been saving on the computer until I need them for the posts, so I do have a couple in the back of my mind ready to go, now if the hands will just do the work. So out of laziness tonight I am going to do the tag that I was given of "6 random things, 6 happy things", even though I had hoped to think more about them before posting, especially after my 100s list was so fresh but here it goes:
RANDOM:
1) Is it better to try something even with out looking into it, training for it, doing it really well, or is it better to hold off until you can do it well? I tend to do the first one (e.g.. blogging and roping others in without knowing really how to do much, races/running, etc) and I think it may bug those who do the second.

2) Sadly I think I am a pessimist.

3) When I visit my hometown, I have lots of flashbacks of walking... all over the place. I am sad that my kids won't have that freedom to explore. And I think its beautiful there.



4) I am nervous about having to reenter the workforce in the future

5) I am not a very touchy feely gal, except with my kids.

6) I felt that Bro. Holland was talking directly to me in Sat. general conference.



HAPPY
1) I love the way that Clint smells! He is a natural guy, and his natural pheromones are what I believe colognes try to copy. I am mad that I did wash before he left and have nothing that smell like him. So Clint if you are reading... Call me.

2) NPR have I made it clear that I love this?? It is on in our house almost all day, I feel it is my only contact with the outside world.

3) Dance Revolution!! Oh boy I cant wait to get back to Utah to play this. I am no dancer, but I love this game. Guitar hero was very satisfying also.



4) I'm not sure how to phrase this ... I love to get to know people, not so much in the where are you from sense (though that has its place), but in the what do you think about where you are from kind of way. Make sense. Its a natural high for me. I pretty much like everybody I know.

5) I am crazy for Ruby right now. I love all the kids, but something about Ruby melts me. Maybe it's the age, her petiteness, or her indifference to me. Probably a bit of all.

6) Reading in bed. I swear I sleep better, and it feel like the me time of the day.

Whew, there it is. This was even harder for me than was the 100s list. I am going to tag Angelica, Lorie, Erin, hoping it will get them blogging.

How will you die?

Last weekend after parting with Clint, I took the boys to the video store to pick out a movie to watch while I unpacked from the trip. While at the store this movie was under the "guaranteed in stock or you get it free" sign. All the movies were gone, so I figured why not just get the receipt, and then if I ever want to see it, it will be free!. Backfire, when I asked and they handed me one that had been returned, but not replaced. So I brought it home, and watched it the night before it needed to be returned. I wasn't sure what to expect from the previews. I did think that Will Ferrel did a good job. I felt that the movie could have been pretty good, but was just ok., which is pretty much what they say in the movie about the book that the movie is about. (I think you know what I am talking about if you have seen the movie). All this to say that it is interesting to ask oneself, and others, "if you could find out when and how you were going to die, would you? Clint and I had talked about this a week or two before I saw this movie, we just came up with a yes/no answer. But I am still thinking about it. I do have to say I usually like movies better after I watch the background and interviews included on the tape, it was the same with this movie.

Would you find out when and how you are going to die, if you could?

Do you tend to like a movie, song, show, better after learning more about it?

Pledge Time - - check!

I have no shame in saying I love NPR and PBS. Its pledge time, and I feel it my duty, as a daily consumer, to pledge to my local stations. Check it,s done. I don't pledge much, but make sure to do it when there is a challenge grant so I can feel like my pledge is being matched and therefore doubled. When I move from here and don't pay HOA fees that make me pay a quarterly cable fee of $50 (even when I don't want cable, and don't even have a working t.v.), I will be giving this money to these stations.

Welcome Martin!

Welcome to the newest mamber of the clan! My sister just got this adorable dog and named him Martin. I am giddy for him.

An answer to the challenge

Day 1. OSTRICH FESTIVAL -Chandler, AZ
We were pretty excited for this event. I wanted to go last year, but it was rained out. Who can resist the lure of watching ostriches race? Well it wasn't all that great. As you can see from the background a large fair accompanied the event, and although the races were pretty fun (racing ostrichs as well as camels, and chickens), the highlight for the boys was the $4 pony ride, and for clint it was watching the slingshot ride you see at these sorts of things and figuring out how it worked. These places draw an interesting crowd. We held off on the deep fried, below health code made food available at the fair, and ate at Cafe Rio... the highlight of my day.

Day 2 ... I skipped Sunday.. we were up to no good this day.


Day 3-HIKING THE 'TABLETOP' (or at least the attempt)
We were off to a rough start with this one, taking the wrong way to get there, which added 30 min. to the drive, Getting to the start of the trail at high noon, in March... in Arizona...(I think you get the picture, and then the complete contents of one kitchen cupboard that Clint put in a backpack for us to carry.. Holy smokes! But we didn't make it to the top. The hike round trip would have been 8 miles, and because we didn't want our kids to hate us and the word hiking for the rest of their lives, we opted for the 2-3 miler. We were in awe of the many ways a saguaro cactus arms tend to be... some had none, some up to 8. Many looked like things we had the octopus cactus, the dancing cactus, the giver cactus. Isaiah had a hay day with this one. So I posted a picture of a cactus revealing its inner infrastructure. I thought it was neat and didn't use the thumbnail on purpose so you can zoom in on it and take a look around. We also saw some cool military airplanes out training in the desert. They were very low and so easy to watch.


Day 4- LAUNDRY DAY
Not much excitement in this one, but that is what the challenge is about I guess, the day to day. Very true to form Ruby was intent on undoing all the good I was attempting. Why does it seem laundry takes all day!


Day 5- CHILDREN'S ART MUSEUM
I belong to a play-group that does some real fun things. This week we were at the children's art museum, with the theme of under the sea. I tried to take some better pictures of the boys here, but got BUSTED for taking pictures in an art museum... DUH!, the experience left me a little gun shy to take pictures even in the kid areas, but I mustered up the courage for this one of the boys water-coloring.


Day 6- WATER PLAY
I pulled out the hose and put it on the tramp for the boys. They were in heaven. Mason was a whole different boy than a year ago when he wouldn't even get near the water at splash pads .. too unpredictable I guess.

Day 7- FAREWELL TRIP
We wanted to go on a trip with Clint before he left, and do so in a way that would break up his trip a bit. We wanted to go to the Grand Canyon, but opted for a place called Sedona instead. On the way there we stopped at this place called 'Montazumas Castle'. It was an unplanned stop. I have wanted to have those every time we travel to Utah, but we usually just want to get there and so we don't stop. This place was just off the road and worth the stop. Sedona was pretty, kind of a mix between Moab and Park City. Utah has much more to offer. And the bad news of the trip was the lack of camping spaces. Most campgrounds were closed the rest full. So after about 4 hours of trying we gave up on the hunt for a site, and headed into Flagstaff, got a motel, and microwaved the hot dogs. Still a great trip. The next morning we said good bye to Clint, for x amount of time,and headed home. No pictures here.

So that is it. A challenge complete. After about a week of sitting on it, its posted. I am not sure how I feel about it but I did it. Maybe I will try this for a month... or maybe something else. Who knows.

Challenge #2 A week in the life of....

Ok, Ok, I know that some of you are still working on the 100 things challenge, some even on the blog creation challenge. But I have to keep the ball rolling, because we don't want to be a bunch of deadbeat bloggers. So here it is. I am assuming that we all have a digital camera, if not you will have to be creative. Lets go over the background first. A few years ago Oprah had the founder of Amazon on her show, Jeff something, my mind is blank right now. Anyhow, one of the things that he would do is take at least one picture a day. I don't remember the details of all of this, just that I thought that it would be a great way to be more attentive to things surrounding you, or creating an event out of something that may be typical to your day. Since I am trying to be more mindful, I am going to do this. Of course you can take more than one picture a day, but in the end you must share only one a day, and maybe a blip on what it represents. Lets do it for a week straight, starting when you read this. I think you will find it is a fun way to be reflective and share your world with us. Happy snapping!!!

100 things about me

Don't be scared off by this, it only lets you know I am human and a work in progress..



1. I am popular (this is a joke I have shared with many of you.. made funnier by the wicked soundtrack)
2. I am a horrible shopper- I really broke a sweat and was blushing when I talked to a salesman in Pottery Barn a few weeks ago
3. I have won 3 notable awards in my like (jr. High science fair, caring award, the golden scaler) I don't feel I have deserved any of those
4. I have frequent buyers remorse
5. I have a bad habit of picking my kids noses
6. I don't own a cell phone (this just changed)
7. I don't recall ever being in a homes with security systems until we moved to AZ, now they are in about 50% of the homes I go in
8. I work in the cub scouts, and love it
9. Growing up I wanted to be a grocery checker, back then they typed the prices in by hand and I thought that was cool. The scanners have made the job loose its appeal for me.
10. I am embarrassed when I get a haircut, I don't like the attention, so I end up wearing my hair in a ponytail for days and then slowly introducing the new cut.
11. My ideal vacation is visiting family (I have been to San Diego, Seattle, Vermont, Nashville) I like having the automatic tour guide
12. Listening to certain types of music brings out the dancer and singer in me
13. In my mind November = BYU vs. Utah football game
14. Some of the best moments in my life have been at BYU football games
15. I carried a plastic bowl everywhere with me for the first 2 and 1/2 years of Masons life.
16. Im waffly
17. I have to go to a dark place in my head when we make big purchases
18. I have had some amazing conversations with others, but can't seem to remember key points of the conversation even 10 min. later (maybe I am a feeling person)
19. Growing up we had oatmeal for breakfast most mornings, Cold cereal was a rare treat. I am coming back to the oatmeal ways, though the rest of the family will stick with the cold cereal.
20. I am a wanna be perfectionist. I like the results but not the time or demand it creates.
21. I have felt an addiction to running before.
22. My marathon experience- especially the training was a pleasant surprise, and one of the best times of my life
23. I like being a mom more than I thought I would
24. I can't decide if I am an optimist or a pessimist. I think I am only a pessimist with Clint (poor guy)
25. I have a hard time believing I do anything well.
26. I scream while I am in labor
27. I am willing to try most things.. except... ok well some things.
28. I am close with the ladies of the family
29. I like getting to know new people
30. I wish I were more patient and organized. I would have more kids.
31. Clint is a very patient person, but I really tend to push the limits
32. I wish I had taken education more seriously
33. I long for security, but have no idea what that is in my mind
34. having a girl has made me want to be more feminine, I still don't know how to wear makeup
35.I like a sense of humor in people, and when its mixed with intellect its golden (Pres. Hinckley)
36. Im grateful for growing up where I did.
37. I don't think I would raise my kids there
38. I am grateful I had such good friends in high school, and believe they played a part in making me who I am today
39. I don't think we will ever own a brand new car
40. I think my kids are going to be better than I was, or am
41. I have enjoyed our time in AZ
42. I don't like juice or pop - water for me
43. I think I have an addiction to sugar
44. I am uncomfortable around people who worry about their weight.
45. I have discovered wrinkle creases on my forehead that make me feel like I must walked with a surprised look on my face all day
46. I like low rider jeans
47. I like reef flip flops
48. I don't have any fashion sense beyond that
49. I don't think my in-laws are weird. In fact I really like them. This is more rare than I thought.
50. I was a bit of a puppet for my sisters, luckily they were good puppeteers
51. Writing this has made me very self-conscious of my grammar and spelling skills.. and my personality.
52. I get a weird energy and enjoyment out of being the teacher of a group that has no choice but to listen to me. That must be why I enjoy working in primary and why I went into dental hygiene
53. I had spinal meningitis as an infant
54. I played quarterback for our ward intramural flag football team
55. I was on two championship BYU intramural teams (both softball) our first year there. This is a goal of many and reality of few in their time at BYU.... or at least I like to think so.
56. I feel I have grow in our short time away from Utah and family
57. I am not looking forward to moving back although I do think Utah and my family are wonderful
58. I would rather attend a sporting event than go shopping or spaiing (is that a word??)
59. My favorite form of exercise is playing sports... though I am not all that good at them
60. I have NPR on in our house and car almost constantly.
61. I like PBS.
62. I am shocked that anyone would HATE #60, #61. I have met her.
63. I wish I had more time to read, and like to do so in bed before I go to sleep.
64. I don't wear makeup and wouldn't know where to begin. This worries me.
65. I think I am going bald. Clint thinks it worse for a man to go bald than for a woman. WHAT!
66. My ideal exercise routine would include weight training, swimming, yoga, and running. Not in one session of course.
67. I would have liked to have lived more places.
68. I have a lack decorating skills
69. I have a desire to be more 'outdoorsy'
70. I wish I were more creative
71. I would like to be a good teacher.
72. I feel I have bad teeth for a hygienist. I went to the dentist last week and didn't let them know I was a hygienist.
73. I often compose thank you letters in my head, but rarely send them.
74. We live in an area where all the houses are brand new. I don't know that we would ever buy a brand new house again.
75. I wish my grandparents were still around
76. This list is getting really hard to make.
77. I have a weird fear of making goals
78. Clint just got me an ipod. I didn't think I wanted it, but it is wonderful
79. I think I am pretty independent, but I think I get reliant when Clint is around
80. I rarely laugh out loud, even if I think something is funny
81. I think this will be a fun list to read in the future, and am excited to read other peoples.
82. I have had the same best friend growing up, we share birthdays, and I still consider her one of my bests
83. I wear glasses/contacts.
84. I have pretty good pregnancies
85. my natural tendency is to claim more of my Italian heritage than my German, even though I have more german blood. Something is just cooler about Italian.
86. I used to be self-conscious about my nose, now I don't care so much.
87. I have big teeth. I think this helped me get a job in the dental field
88. My pre-dental field jobs were all janitorial. I still don't know any cleaning tricks.
89. I don't think the women in my family know how to take time for themselves
90. I have had to kick my boys out of the house, feed ruby about 1 lb. of cheese and put her to bed to be able to write this post
91. Growing up I felt that my best friend was smarter than be because she had cable, now I think it is because she read more
92. My favorite halloween costume was a pippi longstocking outfit. I loved her!
93. I don't like to have the same things as other people, but don't want to be odd either.
94. I sometimes leave conversations thinking "why did I say that, or did I talk about myself the whole time?" things like that
95. My favorite thing to say when I was little was "don't bug me", I still say that to my kids sometimes, and feel bad./
96. When I am pregnant I tend to have space and touch issues
97. I did my great brain project in 3rd grade on popcorn, a regular snack our family.
98. My toenails are usually painted (red or purple.)
99. My favorite movies usually are sad and funny (Life is beautiful, My life)
100. I feel bad that I challenged others to make this list...but I know they can do it.

A call to blog

Today I sent out an elite to several friend as a call for them to join me in the blog world. I hope they will heed the call and we will have a great little circle to work with. Here are the people I invited and the area in which I feel they will be able to contribute in a way that no other could:
Julia-friend from hometown. Recently had a son with health problems, always a learning experience.
Erin Y- Classic style! And she does it on a budget. Lets learn.
Lorie- the best friend. Same birthday and an eternal connection. World traveler, almost 30 and still single (gasp!!)
Melissa B- the cutest mom and best cook, combined. She could teach me a thing or two.
Celia- blog leader. She knows the ins and outs of it all, and already has an awesome thought stimulating blog, you will love it.
Charlissa- Back in the home-state, enduring the student life still.
Jen- woman of mystery. who wouldn't like a peek into the mind of this intellect. She could give us some great book
recommendations
Misti- A glimpse into the life most of us won't experience .. Harvard.. as well as being an amazing mom of 4 younguns
Allyson- Playgroup genius. She coordinates with the best of them and will be one of my few links to this small town.
Lorilynn- fellow "Utes make my blood boil", I love the BYU football love in this lady.
Sara D-AZ pal, coupon savvy, dancer, teacher, and owner of the cutest dog!
Kerry- family history link and techno chick. Kerry I am going to be shocked if you don't have a blog yet
Lesley-the girl that made hunny notes really work (remember these??, I think its genius) Living in Indiana fixing up the house and living on rice and beans.
Erin R- fitness and nutrition pro. Plus a lover of JCrew. Ready to embark on new adventures in grad school, bring us along.
Becca L- MOTIVATOR!, She can get you to do anything and feel great about it. The coolest chick ever.
Marliese- the most dedicated runner I have ever know, she will be our New York connection.
Angelica- the silent hero. I can rattle off a list of people who have been influenced by this people loving lady. A small town girl who can hang with the most elite.
Jessica- the creative mind. I am so glad to have reconnected with this lady recently. She is amazing.
Karalynn- Can see the humor in it all, but also a great thinker, socially conscious, and fellow law and order fan.

So there is the list. Amazing women who have influenced my life, and each others. At BYU we talked about having a 201 reunion someday, and I think that this is a start. Don't feel pressure, but I am counting on you.