Chapter 34

I will be sleeping well tonight...our Realtor just left our house and informed us that we are not moving right now! I can finally be at peace (since for a few weeks I have been worrying to death about all the things involved in a move), and know that this is not our time to leave our house. I am very happy about that- but I do see that our time will come-perhaps later this year, or next Spring. Either way, I am happy, and do still love our place- I love that I don't have to do any major projects, he even said I don't have to paint my blue kitchen over!! I love him- he is a great Realtor! He helped us buy here and we trust him and his judgement. We can't afford to pay to get out of this house, so until the market gives a little, not even that much, but enough so we can just walk away, we are staying, and quite frankly, "I am down with that!"
HOWEVER, if anyone knows anyone who would love to buy our house, we could be in the market at any given moment!! Just let us know! Tonight, I will sleep like a baby, that is until my baby climbs in bed with us around 5:30am...

Just for a cute pic, my girls posed for me just before they went to bed...they are quite the pair!

Chapter 33

Okay, it is freezing here! It is really freezing- seriously today it will drop to 13 degrees, and the wind chill is beyond colder than that! Can I say that I really don't like the cold?! I mean, I really don't like the cold! I hate it, actually, and I don't let my children say they "hate" things, but for sake of finding another word, such as detest, which doesn't sound as bad, I will say that is how I feel! I long for Spring to come, oh how I wish the weather would warm up! I am so jealous of Katie's 87 degree warmth in February, and I long to visit the park again! Right now you can't even see the ground, let alone even walk the park (as if I really would...remember how I feel about the cold!) I don't mind seeing the snow fall, it can be beautiful, it's just when I have to venture out in it...like today, totting Celeste around to the grocery as the wind whips the cart out of control, and I have to chase it, carrying her on my hip- yes, really it is that bad! Leah doesn't seem to mind the cold, or the snow...but she is bundled up and only out for a little while- this was last week, but our yard pretty much looks the same this week!

Enough griping about the weather...now I will gripe about how successful Autumn's little one is doing with the potty....she is nearly a year younger than Celeste, and she is excited about the potty! Celeste could care less- she doesn't have any desire, and can I stress any desire to go on the potty. We bought her Dora panties back in November, and that was fun, at the store, but when I mentioned that she put them on...whoa! "Now, wait a minute, I have to wear them?! NO, I just like Dora, mom!" I am convinced that is what she was thinking, because she has yet to put them on! And forget pull-up's- those are worse- just the look of them sends her in a panic- she seriously will watch Leah go potty, even get the toilet paper for her and flush, but her go...NO WAY! After reading of Autumn's gem child, I decided that I would sit her on her potty all evening until she went, and then it would be one heck of a party, with gifts galore for her! She sat, and sat, and sat, and sat some more, nearly 2 hours, and NOTHING! I am serious! She didn't mind sitting, she even held the fruit roll-up in her hand with a grip I couldn't break, knowing all along that it would be hers. I even told her she could'nt wear her Diego jammies, (you know the boy ones that she LOVES), unless she went pee in the potty....tears, and more tears, and pleading "Diego" come pouring out instead of pee...2 hours later, Dana says, "uh, Kel, I don't think your method is working!" "REALLY, ya think?!" Yeah, he is right, definitely not ready! I know, we wait till they are ready and we don't push, but I thought for sure she could go if I just spent a few minutes with her- nope! She loves Diego and when we talk about panties, she says, "Diego panties", which of course they don't make- FOR GIRLS- but if I have to resort to boy briefs to get this girl going...so help me, I will!! I won't let another younger girl surpass mine...I am heading to Target now- watch out Ellie!! This was her just before bed, naked and all, she STILL didn't perform- oh well, at least she is cute sitting au natural on the pot- how many of us do? Count me out.

Rockin' Out!

Yesterday for 6 hours, we were rockin' out to "Rock Band"! Dana's sisters, Ivy and Liza brought over this amazingly cool PS2 game that has a drum set, 2 guitars and a microphone, and you are the ROCK BAND! It plays really rockin songs, and each member plays a different instrument and one sings. Talk about fun! I was shocked at how much fun I had- I knew Dana and the kids would love it, but I am not really a "karaoke" kind of girl, since I can't sing, so I wasn't all into it, at first...but once I grabbed the mic, it was all good! True, I can't sing the correct notes, but all it reads is the intonations and the lyrics, so I did really good- I even got 100% on a song I had never heard, and "Serious Skills" on "Wanted Dead or Alive" from Bon Jovi- I think Jon would've been horrified to hear the sound, but the game loved me!! I went on to try the bass guitar, and did fairly well on that too...but the most fun by far was watching Alex rock it out! He quickly picked up the singing, and then fell in love with the bass guitar. He was really good, and by the end of the 6 hour tour, he had mastered the "easy" level on several songs- I was a proud rock band mama! So cute! Dana thoroughly enjoyed the guitars and loved feeling like a rock star! I really think that he felt like a true rocker and he was really good too! Thanks to Ivy, we will probably have to invest in this at some point, but for now, the memories are awesome! Check out these pics of us Rockin' Out! Oh, but don't look for demo's anytime soon!

Eye-Opening Update/Alex scores to win!

I have finally received the rest of Leah's bills from her eye surgery and I am so amazed at what Doctor's charge for things. Here is a quick rundown for fun...
Visit to assess the eye-$350.00
Determination of Chalazion needing removal included in that cost- oh and eye exam $55 which insurance doesn't cover! lovely.
Surgery Center-$1684.00
Dr. Roger's to remove chalazion -$1050.00
Anesthesiologist- $252.00
Grand Total of:$3336.00
My cost- this is what I think is crazy- $452.81
Having the chalazion somewhat gone, is that really priceless, or would it perhaps have gone away on it's own? Looking at my adorable daughter's smile and not her eye, now THAT is priceless- am I vain, or what?!
Seriously, I think insurance should've covered it entirely, for as much as we pay them! I am not that happy that I now have to dole this amount out to the Surgery center and anesthesiologist...here is a list of who gets what from us:
Dr. Rogers (who I really like and who is LDS), $99.64
Surgery Center (where she was treated like a princess for all of an hour and a half)- $158.30
Anestheiologist (who used just the right amount of meds so she woke up happy!)- $194.87
What am I going to do? I can't not pay it, I did take her and ask them to remove it, right? She is much happier now, and can now have full vision, as the chalazion was weighing down her eyelid. The true test is to prevent more from appearing by scrubbing that lid daily, and praying that we don't ever have to deal with insurance that doesn't pay much for a beautiful little girl's eye!

I have to be grateful, though, grateful that we have competent doctors and nurses and wonderful drugs in these latter-days to perform these surgeries! I am, I just wish I could figure out why it costs so much! Perhaps they have bills they need to pay with my money! That's it!!

Today was Alex's last basketball game and their first win of the season!! Very exciting! They had some really close scoring games, but this time we really won- 38-10! Alex scored 6 points and shot really well! He actually drove the ball down several times, but hit just 3, we are very proud, and it feels really good to win!! I am glad they pulled off a win, there is nothing like being in a losing season, so this felt great to these boys! Alex really had fun today, and here are some cute pics- Isn't he the cutest little basketball player? I love the running shot! GO TIGERS!!
Alex awaits the ball to be thrown to him, and gets an assist from the next play!
He is fighting for the ball in center court- he got it and then got another assist!
This is when he took it to the hoop and scored his last basket of the game!
Taking his time making it to the other end of the court.

Chapter 32

Well, I just got back from looking at a house that I thought would be perfect for us! I had seen pics online and couldn't wait to see it...4 bdrms, 2.5 bath, fenced yard, deck, island in kitchen, huge master bdrm with walk-in closet and great location! This house looked perfect in black and white photos! Aha! Not in person! Not even close! Oh, the outside looks nice, wouldn't you agree? But up close, a different story. I was so disappointed from the moment I stepped in the front door- I knew immediately this was NOT the house for us! The carpet was disgusting, the kitchen linoleum was hideous, the trim was tacky oak, and the basement was not only not finished, but had insulation hanging all over it! I was sad, but only because it was a great price, and it was even on a cul-de-sac, which is something I really like. Oh well, I feel bad that the agent spent his time on us- it was a really snowy day, and the poor guy even went over and shoveled the driveway for us- oh, the house is empty, and now I know why!! I am not discouraged, and I truly believe that if we are meant to move, it will happen when it is supposed to happen.

SO, an update for you that commented about our move, and thank you for your thoughts, by the way! We have known for a while now that CES is not coming to hire us for out West. As sad as we were, we know that someday we will get there, but it is not going to be now or anywhere in the near future. That said, we have to move either this year or next anyway, since our 7/1 arm will be up! The interest rates are so low that we could easily afford a bigger house. Reyn. has been great for us in that Dana's job is pretty secure, so I think we will stay here a while, perhaps 10 years or so...there is potential that it will be a longer time frame than we originally thought. Not that we both want to stay here forever, but our job is #1 at the moment, and we can't really leave all that we have in that and try to move somewhere else that doesn't offer all we have here. It is not all about the money, either, we have great benefits, and I truly love the schools here. I could easily change Wards, but I love being somewhat close to my family...this is not an easy decision, but a necessary one. By necessary, I mean that we HAVE to move sometime- sometime within the next 18 months! So, if this is the right time, our house will sell, and if it is not, well then we will wait till the time is right. We literally had the Lord's hand in our selling of the condo prior to moving here, and that was not when I thought we would move, so that tells me that Heavenly Father knows more than me and can see the bigger picture, when I can't. I have faith that whatever is meant to be, will be, and we will just do our part and stay on the straight and narrow, and "things will work out, they always do", as our beloved late Prophet President Hinckley always said. I am grateful for that!
From Katie's blog today, I saw that she loved 2 of the American Idol men, that I thought were terrific last night, too. I really like the young boy, David and I like the other David as well.
I am anxious to hear the girls tonight! What a great show, my children can watch, and it is fun!!

Chapter 31

To move or not to move...that is the question...that is what is on my mind today...it has been on Dana's mind so much lately that it has become the "question for days". I am not sure how I feel about it all together. It would only be a little move- probably only about 4 miles away...but a move is a move in all respects...and I am certain that it will fall on my shoulders, as did our last one! The thought of packing up all our crap and de-junking through it all sounds so daunting. I am not sure I am up to the task. BUT, the thought of getting a bigger house for not much more is nice...BUT we still have to sell ours and that could be the answer to the question at hand. I think we have a great house, and many advantages to selling quickly...ie, we bought this house after it was on the market just 6 days! We live on a fairly traveled street and there are no other houses like ours that have sold in over 2 years. That is good for us! That means we could be in a higher demand type house. We have a 4 level split, and that is a desired type house for some folks, (us, 3 1/2 years ago!), and so I think we could sell, but can we sell and be able to walk away, that is another question! Tell me what you think, I would like to know anyone's thoughts on the matter! Thank you!


By the way, today has a significance to it...Dana came home from his mission in Chile exactly 10 years ago today! I got to see him for the first time in 2 years that day, and it was so nice! I remember wanting to hug him so much, but still couldn't until later that night when he was released- that seemed longer than the 2 years he was away! Talk about torture!!


He looked so tan and his hair was so blonde- he was smiling through the tears and I will never forget the emotions on his face- it was a tender moment in time for him and for his whole family. I love this day, and exactly two months from today, we will celebrate our 10 year anniversary- now that seems crazy! I can hardly believe it! What's even harder to believe is that we have 3 kids and our oldest will be 8 a month from today! If you don't stop and take time to breathe, life sort of passes you by...I will be breathing today!

Desperate Housewives we are not!

Last night I went to a get together with 3 of my dearest friends from High School. Renee, Wendy and Angie all graduated the year before me, but we hung out all the time, and we have gotten together a few times a year since then! They are amazing women, and I cherish the times we get together. Last night was no exception- we arrived around 5:30pm at Renee's, and ate a really good dinner, followed by really good desserts! We just sat around the table from then until around 1:15am, when we decided it was finally getting late! Seriously, I was not even tired! I could hang out and talk with them until dawn! I know what you are thinking, "Kelly, hang out with girlfriends and talk all night?, Yeah, right?!" Well, I could and I would if I didn't have a crazy family at home waiting for me, we all want to stay late, we don't get out that often! ! We love this night, and look forward to the next time!

Which brings me to my title today, "Desperate Housewives we are not!" Renee is a mom of a 9 year old girl- wow, that sounds old!! Just kidding! I have known her longer than I have known Angie or Wendy, and that is because we were cheerleaders together. I met the other two soon after that. Renee is a hair stylist and has always cut and styled all of our hair (even at her wedding, which we were all in, she did our hair too!!) She is amazing and I am grateful to have had her friendship for 18 years now! Her mom is so wonderful, too, and has been such a great mom to me through the years! Wendy is next, she has 2 little ones, and we share many fun dates in our lives. Example, her birthday is the day after mine, she was married 3 weeks after me (I was in that one too), her daughter's birthday is 2 days after Leah's and her son's is 2 days after Celeste's! She married Bill, our friend from H.S. (they played Saxophone together) and they are really great! Wendy is by far the nicest of us all-her house was the one we hung out at the most during those years, and her parents are really fun, too! She works 3 jobs!! Yes, 3 jobs- she stays so busy, that we are so grateful she makes time for our get together's. I am pretty sure she is grateful for them too, since she came straight from work last night. Angie is a mom of just one precious little 3 year old girl! She is so funny, and keeps us laughing so hard that my stomach hurts! She is "quick witted" and always knows the right things to say to make something funnier! I love her! She is married to a really adorable younger man, who is incredibly handy and generous, (he came over after a really late night of work, to help us fix an electrical problem, all because we are his friends), she is really lucky!! I, of course stay at this crazy house with my crazy kids all day, and so the stories we tell, are really something! Our husbands just don't understand, and I am sure they never will, how we can stay talking about whatever till whatever time...it is just part of our friendship, and I love it!

We got to talking about the new shows that are out that have these sexy working women who have all kinds of drama in their lives...we want to know when we are going to get our own show- they want drama, we got drama!! We got history together and last night we broke out 4 years of H.S. Yearbooks, so we could laugh even more! Oh, and did we laugh! I don't think I have laughed that hard for that long in YEARS! It was so fun! The trips down memory lane were of incalculable value- we even read what we had written in Renee's year books! How funny! Each year mine is signed, "Love Always, Kelly", followed, by, " I love _____!" Each of the them have a different guy's name!! Oh, that is funny! We laughed about the "Spanish Club" group photo we were all in- there wasn't even such a group! We made up that, and they were even on the "Polo Team", another non-existant group! We were all on the Yearbook staff, which is great since we posted lots of pictures of ourselves! ( I went on to be the editor of mine my Senior Year, and put lots of pictures of me and my friends) We laughed at how they were all 3 "Office helpers"! What the heck do office helpers do? They didn't know! We of course laughed the hardest at our hair, clothes and Angie's blue eyeliner! Those were the days! Someday I will post some of those fun pictures, but you would laugh so hard you might pee yourself, and I don't want to do that to you, so I am refraining for your benefit! You can thank me later!

So, as the wee hours of the morning appeared, Angie and I head out...but of course we stay outside and chat for a few minutes longer...so the night continues. We have stayed much later before, and one of these days we are staying the entire night! We won't even sleep! Apparently not that much has changed since High School! Except that we are all so thankful we don't dress or look quite the same! That is a blessing for us all-you readers included!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love Valentine's Day! I love all the hearts, the pink and the sweetness it brings out in people! I woke up this morning to find to beautiful handmade cards from Leah and Alex on my pillow. They are so sweet and perfect!

I bought them new shirts for Valentine's Day- they weren't too thrilled, but I assured them that was a better gift than candy! Did they buy it? Um, no...but they weren't terribly disappointed, either- they get candy ALL the time, and Grandma will make sure they get more for the holiday!

The girls wanted to blow kisses to everyone for Valentine's Day, so here you go...love to you all!

What kind of fruit are you?!

I Am a Strawberry

You are friendly, outgoing, and well liked by many people.You are popular, but there's nothing you ordinary or average about you. You a very interesting person, and you have many facets to your personality.Sometimes you feel very conflicted. Your different sides of your personality pull at you. You are a very sensual and passionate person. You are fiery... you can't help it.In general, you keep your passionate side under wraps. You are only wild in private. What type of fruit are you? Are you as sweet of a fruit as me?!

Chapter 30

Here we are again on Monday! I really don't like Monday's! Have I mentioned that before?! Mondays are my start to the week, and it seems like they last the longest of all the days of the week for me! The highlight of Mondays is I get to watch Prison Break- my breakaway from my world hour! I so love that show, and there is only one episode left this season! Not fair, not fair, not fair! For those of you who don't watch it, you are missing out! Not only are the characters really good looking, they are actually really good actors, and the script is so good! I will have to find something else to be my hightlight after next Monday- bummer! Thank goodness the writer's strike ended today, now there is bound to be something better on tv than American Gladiators! Now, that is something to look forward to!

On a lighter note, we are all feeling much better in our house, and we are looking forward to playgroup tomorrow and Valentine's Day later in the week! I made yummy sugar cookies today, and we are taking them to playgroup if I don't eat them all tonight! They are THAT good! Thanks to my friend Tiffany who willingly surrendered the best recipe EVER for sugar cookies! I only share with those I love, so email me if you think you are one of those and want the recipe!

I talked to my best friend that lives in Arizona last night, and I am soooooooo excited because she is coming to visit in July!! I haven't seen her since July of 2006! This was in 2003- she was pregnant, I was not, but nearly everytime we have seen one another, one of us was either with child, or had just delivered...she still looks amazing no matter which! I love her! We try to see one another once a year, but sometimes it just doesn't work out that well...like last year- she flew into here while we were on vacation in South Carolina!! She even borrowed our car, but I didn't get one second of her time- it was so sad!! But this year, I will get 2 whole days with her! So great! I am very excited and now I have something to look forward to this summer! Oh, and it's 78 degrees there, and 9 here- how unfair is that?! We could even get 6 inches of snow tonight! That means a snow day for my kids, and another day stuck in the house- good or bad? It would be great if I hadn't been inside for the last week! I need to get out!! I guess I will have to find something to do indoors tomorrow...that means I will post here! Lucky you!

Uh Oh Update...

I think the camera is going to be okay!! I let it dry out all day and night, and when I put the batteries in this morning, viola- it turned on!! I even took a picture to be sure!! I need to reset all the settings, but I think we might be okay! This is what my gorgeous tulips look like today...all open and in full bloom- so beautiful!
Update on our illnesses:
Alex, still down with a cold- I think the strep is going away, but the cold virus is ever present.
Leah, napped for over 4 hours this afternoon, but she ate dinner, and says she is feeling better-let's hope!
Celeste is bad...she was probably only awake for 3 hours the whole day! She and I slept together for the majority of the day... it was so nice to snuggle with her-she only wanted me, and I loved it- I just wish we both felt better and she was that snuggly all the time!
Me- this is awful! I have a splitting headache and the sinus pressure is nearly unbearable- I hate being sick!! I took Sudafed and Ibuprofen and they didn't even touch my headache! I feel like I got hit with a Mack truck on my forehead! This is so not fun!
Thank goodness for a non-sick husband who has done everything that needed to be done today for me! I am so thankful that he did it all and took care of us sickies!
Let's just say a prayer that he doesn't get whatever we have!!

Uh Oh!

I went to take new pictures of my now opened tulips for the day, and found out that the camera is not working! I saw it fall a day or two ago, though it was in its case, but apparently that was enough, because it will not even turn on... Bummer...I guess I will have to send it to be repaired...so that means no more pictures until further notice...I am sad...it could be worse, and there is good that could come out of this...I could get a NEW camera! Not so bad, right?!
Update on family illness, for your information:
Alex's strep kept him home for 3 days! He probably won't even play in his game Saturday morning...it is not fun!
Leah woke up today with a tummy ache, and she is laying around, though she had no other symptoms.
I have been sneezing all day, and Alex and I have used up two whole boxes of kleenex's!
What is goin' on?!
February has not been a fun month, yet! I am hoping next week will be better!!
I took these before the camera died, and wanted to post them of the bath baby...isn't she cute?!

I'm IT, again?! Are you sure?!

TOO MUCH INFORMATION, IF YOU ASK ME...and obviously you did...so here is more useless knowledge for you today!

1. I had 6 L’s in my first, middle and last name (maiden) and once won a contest for $100 for having an L in my name on the radio. (I was in college, and so needed money!)
2. I am the baby in my family (there’s just 2 of us!) I am a "Daddy's Girl".
3. I started college wanting to be a Pediatric Nurse- after I failed both math and chemistry first quarter; I decided that major might not suit me! I became a teacher instead! My degree is a B.S. in Human Ecology- Department of Family Relations and Human Development
4. I always wanted to be a teacher when I was little, and would spend all of my allowance at a teacher store, buying supplies, stickers, charts, awards, etc…and that is what my friends and I would play with.
5. I was the fastest runner on my tee-ball team and then the little league team for over 5 years.
6. I began cheering when I was 8 and cheered until I graduated High School- now I just love to watch-my body so can’t do that anymore!
7. I broke both my wrists twice each! (I would have to tape them to do flips in cheering).
8. I was the editor of my Senior Yearbook- it was really fun, and I put lots of pics of me and my circle of friends in it!
9. I initially wanted to go to Penn State, then Kent State during my rebellion year before I decided to go to Ohio State.- Truly my parents said they wouldn’t pay unless I went to OSU- so I lived in a dorm my Freshman Year. See #13 for reference.
10.I met my Best Friend at Orientation the summer before school, and we lived together for the next 3 years. (not part of #13!)
11. I lived in an apartment with a girl who had OCD with germs for nearly a year-she would wash everything in bleach and take showers with her shoes on- she drove us crazy! Oh, the stories I have from those days...She was a nice girl, but had sad problems- I hope she is better now!
12. I lived in an apartment with 5 other girls- my room faced the alley, where they burned our dumpster after an OSU loss.
13. I have lots of regrets.
14. I would love to be able to be an interior designer, though I really long to teach again.
15. I love teaching in Relief Society, though I never know what comments I may get, and I get more out of it than the women do, I am convinced.
16. I was a blonde for a while- scary! Dana loves my hair long, and loved the blonde- I hated both, so I win! I was blonde till I was 5, too. Oh, and I LOVE getting my hair cut!
17. I love to read books about relationships, and I love mysteries. I read from Oprah’s book club for a few years, some of those favorites are, Gap Creek, The Pilot’s Wife, now my reading pretty much stays around the Berenstein Bears, Dora and Diego.
18. I learned to run without getting shin splints. I now run a few times a week, though I don’t run far, and I don’t love it, it keeps me in shape…well, sort of…see the countdown on the far right…
19. I played Varsity Soccer for 2 years in High School- we had to have a girl on the team, so I got to play every game, though I wasn’t really that good! Our team was mediocre.
20. I lost a friendship over $12.
21. I was only 5’2 when I started High School, and finished being 5’7. I had a huge growth spurt between Freshman/Sophomore year- there is hope for my girls!
22. I love to bake- cookies are my favorite, and cakes, too, oh, and brownies, and peanut butter pie, and strawberry pie….oh, and I make a birthday cake everyear for my kid’s birthday- I have done a dinosaur, a King Kong on a building, a mermaid, a fish, a Rocky Balboa, and a few others, though I am an amateur by every sense of the word! Trust me- I have pictures. The treasure is that no matter how hideous it really is, my kids LOVE it!
23. I don’t dress up for Halloween. I love others that do, but I just like not dressing up- even as a kid, I didn’t love it. I love the candy, that’s for sure, and I love dressing up our kids!
24. I love hard and chewy candy better than chocolate candy bars- skittles, starburst, Swedish fish, dots, are a few of my favorites.
25. I have loved Reese’s Pieces since E.T., which was my favorite movie as a child.
26. I had 7 Cabbage Patch Dolls, and I can still name them: Lynette Audry was my first, and I got her for getting straight A’s on my report card! She now belongs to Leah, though I still love her!
27. I have been to Canada, Mexico, California and the East Coast States.
28. I paid to take a shower after 3 days in Mexico on Spring Break while in college- don’t ask questions, I hardly remember it all…long time ago…refer to #13 above.
29. I love to sing when I am driving! As long as no one is in the car with me, I will sing loud and proud! I always wonder what others think when they see this!
30. I once got 3 speeding tickets in 4 months! Two were legitimate, one I fought in court- and lost, but I told the judge that the police officer who ticketed me would have to one day answer for lying! They told me to hurry up and leave the courtroom- it is true, though.
31. I am a principle fighter.
32. I do not respect those who think they have power but don’t, and use it to make people miserable. I happen to know a few.
33. I love the color brown…but yesterday my favorite color was pink…the combo is great too…I am a color girl.
34. I love taking pictures, and wish I could be better, but can’t afford the investment in a new camera, so I just take lots and love them anyway.
35. I love to go on vacation- when I was a kid, we sometimes went on 3 a year- they nearly were always somewhere with a body of water- I love to swim, though I hate fish and hate not being able to see what is in the water with me- I tend to stay at the pool!
36. I love to fish- though not on a boat- on solid ground, casting into a pond.
37. I get motion-sickness all the time. I take medication when I travel or are in a car for any length of time.
38. I never dated a blonde haired guy until I met Dana.
39. I had a dream when I was younger that I died before I was 30- though that didn’t happen, I sadly think I won’t live into my older age…Dana hates that. I always tell him that if I die, he’d better remarry quickly because our kids need a mother, but deep down it breaks my heart to think of that happening. I love our family.
40. I am deeply grateful for understanding parents- they have sacrificed much for their “material girl” and they support me in anything and everything I do and have done.
41. I love picture frames- I have more than I can count, and more in boxes, since this house will not hold all of them on display.
42. I fell off a log into a creek in the 5th grade, couldn’t get up and had to call for help.
43. I used to love camping as a child, and now would pick nearly any other activity to do…maybe when our kids are older…nah, I doubt it!
44. I love to paint- re-decorate-faux paint, explore colors with paint (have you seen the blue in my kitchen?!) I won a painting contest at Lowe’s for the bathroom at our old house and 4th place for the faux painting in Alex’s room at our old house. I got $50 and some more paint- I never used it, and we then moved.
45. I want to live in Arizona someday. I love the climate and I want to see what life is like somewhere other than here.
46. I have a deep love for my Grandparents. I was affectionately called, “Kelly Girl” by my grandfather, who died in 2000- he was so loving and loved me immensely. I get my long fingers and height from my grandmother, who died in 2005- I wear her engagement ring on my right hand and think of her every time I see it. It never comes off. I love my mom’s parents more than I can say, and try to visit them several times a year- they are the most loving, and sweet people. I get my love of chattiness from my grandmother and she is wonderful!
47. I love family history, and recently started indexing and working on my own family tree.
48. I love to sleep in and be lazy in the mornings…sadly that hasn’t happened much since we had our son- nearly 8 years ago…but every once in a while, I get to enjoy the silence of the morning.
49. Spring is my favorite season. Clarification: late spring to early summer, truly.
50. I love this blog! I love the creative outlet it gives me and a break away to enjoy life and remember all the little things that we forget so easily.

Chapter 29

When Dana brought home these tulips for me on Saturday, the first thing I said was, "Is this an early Valentine's Day gift?" I asked him that because I know not to expect flowers on the "expected to receive flowers day". He said, "No, you weren't feeling well last night, so I thought these may help." That was so nice, I thought (feeling bad for assuming they were for some other reason, like, you were mad at me, so I thought these would smooth things over...") they weren't though, and that was really nice of him. Tulips are my favorite flower, and they are in season somewhere, since the flower shop had these gorgeous purple ones just waiting to come to my house. I love them, and I love Dana for getting them for me! When we were married, the tulips around the Temple were so amazing, and so beautiful, that instantly I fell in love with them, and all the different colors, these purple ones are really colorful, and they make me smile whenever I walk into my kitchen- and they last, so I am hoping they stay for a while (since I won't be getting any new ones for Valentine's Day!!)

Couple's Tag

Autumn tagged me to do this Couple's questionnaire, so I am telling all...well, not ALL, but maybe somethings you didn't know about us...here goes...

How long have you and your significant other been together?


Dana and I met in August of 1994, so nearly 14 years now! Wow, when it is put that way, it seems like I have always known him- from 18 till now...you do the math for my age, which is his age, too, (I am 6 weeks OLDER than him!) We were working at Cracker Barrel, he was a server and I was a cashier. I had just started there when my childhood friend, who worked there too, said I should meet this guy...she said he was rather "new-age", since he was going to "Woodstock 1994" and he drove a really beat up car! I saw him, and right away thought he was really cute. This is what we looked like a few months later... Please try to refrain from any "big hair" comments, as I know it was! Check out Dana's glasses, too!! Now, you can laugh! This was right after I joined the Church, in October and we were heading to a dance, a church dance- laugh harder now, -I am!!
Who eats more?
This could go either way...it depends on what it is we are eating- for me, Chinese and Mexican I could so out eat him, but for regular meals, it would be him. A little funny we have at meal time is that whoever makes up the dinner plates with the food, jokingly says to the other, "I gave you more!" Sometimes if we are having a really yummy salad, and I see that his plate has more, I give him a really hard time, and make him add some to my plate!

Who said I love you first?
Dana did, and I didn't say it back that night...we hadn't been dating all that long, and I had been in a series of bad relationships, where I thought I "loved" some of them, so I was being a little leary this time around. We were watching a movie in his house, when out of nowhere, he says, "I love you", and I was just silent. I was just thinking that he was just saying it, and I wanted to be sure he was serious. I really loved him, I just wanted to make sure I really loved him! I think he felt bad when I didn't respond, but it was just a few dates later when I said it back, and then it just became part of our hello's and goodbye's.
Here is what we looked like a year later, our 1 year together at my 20th birthday...

Who is taller? Dana is 6 foot tall, exactly, and I am 5'7, and 5'7.5 on good days. I can wear heels anytime and I still won't tower him- I like that!

Who sings better? We don't sing...neither of us are any good, and sadly, our children are taking after us...but at least we all try to sing, despite it doesn't sound that great! I feel sorry for whoever sits in front of us in Sacrament!

Who is smarter? Well, that is up for debate between us...Dana would say him, since he has a M.E., but I always tell him that my B.S. means more than his B.A. It's just a joke, but truly, he is the smarter one...I won't deny that my common sense is sometimes hindered, and he seems to be better at seeing the big picture in decision making. If it were up to him, he would make all the choices when it came to our life, but since I am the wife that actually says what I want and does what I want, that doesn't always happen for him... which leads to the next question...

Who wears the pants in the family? You decide! Just kidding, we are a joint pant wearing couple!

Who does the laundry? Me- remember I am the control freak...I like to do it, actually, it gives me a sense of accomplishment, just as mowing the lawn does...I can see the results as I am doing it- too often in my job, do I see results, since I am raising little kids, so I take what progress I can get from mowing the lawn and doing the laundry.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? That would be me, too... At our old house, that meant I was closest to the door, ie; the children come to me first, right?! Well, at this house, it is farthest from the door, and the children still come to me first...how did that happen?!

Who pays the bills? Are you seeing a pattern yet? Me, I do, since I like to control things! No, I do it for other reasons, too- I like it, and I am home so I can do it easier than he could, since he isn't at home as much. Ask him how much we pay for something sometime- he has NO idea! Funny.

Who drives when you are together? I would have to say him- if we are alone, or with the kids, he does it, and I don't mind...he drove the entire distance to Myrtle Beach and back last summer, and I was happy about that!

Who is more stubborn? Uh, duh...Me of course!

Who is the first to admit when they're wrong? Dana for sure, I hardly ever admit wrongdoing, since I hardly ever do anything wrong!! He is always the first to apologize and move on, where I could hang on to something for days...and days...and days! This picture is one of my favorites from him in Chile- it was 1997!

Whose parents do you see the most? Mine, since they live in town. Dana's parents live out west, so sadly we only see them a couple times a year- we really miss them! We have dinner nearly every Sunday with my parents and my brother and his family- we cherish those times, since I don't have to cook, and my children get to spend quality time with their cousins and grandparents- fabulous!

Who kissed who first? Dana, for sure...it was our first date...go ahead, gasp, you goody-goody ones! We were at a party, far too late to be out at night, but it was after work, on the night we actually met- probably couldn't even call it a date..gasp more, okay, okay....It was not because he loved me, but just something to do, I guess! I bet he never thought that I would be the one that he would kiss forever...but I was!! Ha ha!

Who proposed? On September 22, 1995, I was living on campus in an apartment with my roommates, when he called to say he was coming over. Nothing out of the ordinary, really, but we had talked about being engaged before he went on his mission, which was coming up quickly. We drove to pick out a ring, bought the one I wanted, and he drove me back to campus to the place mentioned above, where he first kissed me and asked me- I said yes, we went to dinner at Chi'Chi's and he took me home. These were our engagement photos...it was 1998- 10 years, already? My hair just cracks me up!

Who is more sensitive? Me- I get emotional over the "small stuff" which Dana reminds me not to do- he is only sensitive when he gives talks in Church, he did cry when we got married, though...I do remember that!

Who has more friends? Me definetly! I always joke with him that he doesn't have any friends, because he never goes out and does stuff with any guys, whereas I do stuff with my girlfriends frequently. He says guys are just different, and don't need to always be around each other to be friends...he is right, and I am happy to be a girl! (I cherish my friendships, and seriously could not survive without them!)

Well, now that that is over, I tag Abbey, Esther, Jen, and Cassandra, and anyone else that I may have missed!