Tagged!

I've been tagged by Jacquie (you should go read her fun post)! I am supposed to share eight random things about myself and tag eight people.

Here goes:

1. My best friend all through school was Darcy Hudson (Happy Birthday to her on 11/28!!). In high school, we'd skip school one day each spring and make home-made manicotti and then try to work on our tan. Well, Darcy would work on her tan, I would get sunburned. (It wasn't until later in life that I admitted to myself that I had fair skin and was wasting my time trying to tan!) I promise we were both good students...we just took a day away from class!

2. I took art lessons for years as a kid...2nd grade until my senior year, I think. I loved it, and I always think of it this time of year because we had fun little Christmas parties in the "upper room" of the art studio (which was named the "IT Shop" for Intriguing Treasures, and the building was shaped like a treasure chest. The teacher, Mrs. Rowell, answered the phone, "This is IT."). We'd have snacks at the party, and then she would give us a hand-painted, ceramic ornament each year. My sister and I have a whole collection of them at home, and I love seeing them on the tree at Mom & Dad's--they bring back fun memories.

This list is more difficult than I thought. Feel free to move on to another blog now--I don't think this is very interesting information!

3. I like to get a real cherry Coke and a box of Junior Mints at the movies. And speaking of Coke, I rarely drink them, but I love the ones in the small glass bottles--I think they taste so much better for some reason! My Grandparents always have them, so I sometimes drink them at their house.

4. One of the things I like about the Christmas season is watching the movie "It's a Wonderful Life". When I lived at home, we watched it every year. I love all the characters and I think it's such a great story! We say a lot of the lines throughout the year.

5. I try to never wear blue because when I was pregnant with Rhett an older lady at a maternity store said that blue really wasn't a good color for me when I tried on something blue in her store. When I volunteered at the hospital a few years ago, their volunteer shirts were bright blue and every Monday morning when I put on that shirt I thought of that lady at the maternity store (I agree with her, but still!).

6. My favorite cereal right now is Multi-grain Cheerios. I don't eat cereal as much as I used to though because I can't seem to finish a bowl without it getting soggy--too many distractions at breakfast time--getting the kids' breakfast ready and making Rhett eat without him getting up from the table a dozen times, making L's coffee, packing lunches, letting the dog in and out, etc. Now I usually eat the portion of the Poptart that Rhett doesn't eat (Alexee usually eats all of hers) and drink a glass of milk. Not exactly a healthy breakfast, I know.

7. I generally don't like to listen to music. This is crazy, I know. The first thing I do if I drive L's car is turn off the radio. I don't listen to music when I exercise like the rest of the world. I do love the worship music at church, I love to sing to the kids and hear the kids sing, and I'm sure there are other exceptions. I realize this is strange, but my Mom is the same way, so I guess I got it from her!

8. I've had the same eye glasses since college (at least). I really need to invest in some new ones I guess. I only wear them for a few minutes each night--from the time I take my contacts out until the time I turn off the lamp on my nightstand. I think if I bought some cute, stylish ones I might be willing to wear them a little more!

I guess I won't tag anyone, but if you want to play, please leave me a comment so I can read your list. :)

These are a few of my favorite things...

Another fun idea I copied from MK's blog:

25 little things that make me happy:

1.  Almost everything about FALL!  Weather just cool and crisp enough to be comfortable in jeans and a long sleeve shirt, pumpkins, colorful leaves, apple cider...

2.  Miniature Twix candy-bars (I made the mistake of going down the Halloween aisle at Kroger).

3.  Seeing the kids play together, especially when Rhett makes Alexee laugh.

4.  Seeing the kids all dressed up for church on Sunday (the actual process of getting them dressed isn't always so fun though!).

5.  Sitting down to paint.

6.  Cute stationery...writing and receiving letters.

7.  Watching the kids play outside in Flippin--seeing them enjoy the same things I enjoyed as a kid.

8.  Thanksgiving--my favorite holiday (all the family and delicious food--dressing!!--without the shopping madness of Christmas).

9.  Red Velvet Cake on my birthday.

10. Going out to dinner with Lane (and our occasional lunch date to Trio's before picking up the kids at MDO...Trio's spinach dip & pita chips and strawberry shortcake).

11.  Flowers of all kinds--tulips are probably one of my very favorites.  And hydrangeas.  And daylilies, and calla lilies. 

12.  "The Office"--it always makes me laugh out loud.  Watching it with Lane and rewinding it if we think something is extra funny!  He always knows by my laughter if I'm going to say, "let's watch that part again."

13.  Shopping for clothes for the kids.

14.  Sonic drinks (cherry vanilla diet Cokes, but I've been skipping the caffeine since pregnant).

15.  Baking chocolate chip cookies (and eating them while they're warm).  (I guess 95% of my list has to do with food!)

16.  The 20 seconds after I've finished all the laundry and ironing--before anything else gets dirty and goes back into the laundry basket!  

17.  Office supply stores--Post it notes, cute paperclips, a new Sharpie...

18.  Hearing Rhett say Bible verses and sing songs, especially when he sings in the car with no prompting.

19.  Memories of our two trips to Hawaii...and dreaming of going back someday!

20.  Easter/spring/pastel colors.

21.  Fresh strawberries and pineapple.

22.  Fresh haircuts--my own, Rhett's, Lane's and Bogart's!  (Alexee doesn't really get regular haircuts yet).

23.  Scrapbook supplies (even though I don't seem to get around to actually using them anymore).

24.  The old Hymns...How Great Thou Art, Amazing Grace, Blessed Assurance, All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name, The Old Rugged Cross, It is Well...

25.  The kids all fresh and clean after their baths, and going in their rooms to check on them before I go to bed...Alexee's room smells like lotion and powder, and Rhett looks so sweet snuggled in his covers with his blue blankets and stuffed animals. As I close their doors every night I say, "Thank You, Lord."

Questions

MK sent me this list in an e-mail, and I thought it was fun so I decided to post my responses here. Please leave a comment if you decide to answer on your blog--I'd love to read yours...

"35 odd things about you"

1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing? Yes

2. Do you own a gun? Lane does, so I guess it's mine, too.

3. What's a favorite drink at Starbucks or other specialty coffee house? White Chocolate Mocha--decaf

4. What do you prefer to drink in the morning ? water or orange juice

5. Do you do push-ups? not really--never have been able to do them!

6. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? wedding ring

7. Favorite hobby? painting

8. Do you have A.D.D? Possibly. I get bored easily.

9. What's one trait that you hate about yourself? impatient

10. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: I'm getting sleepy, I should have skipped dessert tonight, I should go finish cleaning up the kitchen.

11. Name 4 drinks you regularly drink. Water, iced tea, diet Coke, Sonic cherry limeades

12. Current worry right now? Is Rhett too hot in his bed--he's in his sleeping bag IN his bed, and he was sweating when I went to check on him.

13. Current hate right now? my hair is at a weird length...needs to be shorter or longer (Lane says longer, I like it shorter...what to do?)

14. Favorite place to be? with my family

15. Do you like to travel? Yes--love to! ...But we don't much anymore.

16. What color shirt are you wearing? an ancient, gray, long-sleeve OBU T-shirt

17. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? don't know--never have.

18. Can you whistle? barely--it's pretty pathetic.

19. Favorite color? warm fall colors mostly. and pink.

20. If you could would you be a pirate? probably not--I'm sure I'd get sea-sick.

21. What song do you sing in the shower? "church" songs--hymns, praise & worship music

22. Favorite girl's name? ...Alexandra? I've always loved the name Elizabeth since I was a little girl. I think it's one of the prettiest names ever.

23. Favorite boy's name? ...Rhett?

24. What's in your pocket right now? no pockets.

25. Favorite bedsheets as a child? ????? Not something that made it into my long-term memory.

26. Worst injury? I've never had a broken bone...or stitches? Guess I'm not adventurous enough!

27. Do you love where you live? mmmm....we still miss our "old house", but this is feeling more like home after a year. I actually wish we lived in a house in the country, but Lane says I'd be scared to death. I miss "country life"--it's so nice and quiet at my parents' house.

28. How many TVs do you have in your house? Three

29. Who is your loudest friend? I don't really think of any of my friends as loud??? Maybe I'm just so used to the kids yelling that I don't notice!?

30. How many pets do you have? just Bogart--a miniature schnauzer

31. Does someone have a crush on you? I doubt it! That would be funny.

32. What is your Favorite Book? I'm not really much of a reader, although I wish I was. I think it goes back to the A.D.D. question above!

33. What's your favorite candy? Snickers, Junior Mints, Raisinets

34. Favorite Sports Team? ????none

35. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? "Running late again...looks like it's another day to put make-up on in the school parking lot."

Tag!

Tagged by Heather...she knows I like lists. :)

10 years ago what was I doing?
May 1998...I was finishing my Junior year at Ouachita Baptist University. I went home for the summer. I can't believe that's been that long ago though?! Am I confused on the dates?

5 things on my "to do" list today?
1. Make a check-up and teeth-cleaning appt. for Bogart
2. Go to Babies R Us to buy an umbrella stroller & swim diapers
3. Schedule an air-conditioner summer tune-up (even though we've been running our a/c off and on for a few months...my fault for not calling earlier.)
4. Take R to swim lessons and sign him up for June & July swim lessons
5. Work out, come home and clean the shower

Things that I have actually gotten done today...
Well, I cheated on the question above...I listed things that I actually already did since I'm typing this at 11pm! I like writing things down on lists just so I can cross them off--I'm weird that way.

If I was a billionaire I would...
give a lot to our church and to various causes in our city and around the world--especially programs for sick and hungry children. I'd also travel A LOT and hire someone to grocery shop for me because I dread going to the grocery store SO much.

What are my 3 bad habits?
1. real Dr. Pepper (only sometimes)
2. desserts
3. being impatient...with the kids and just in life in general

Where are 5 places I have lived?
1. Arkansas--3 different towns (birth to present)
2. Salzburg, Austria--college study abroad program

What are 5 jobs I have had?
1. Ranger Boats--summers in high school and college
2. Nursery worker at local church during college (Sandra, remember that?)
3. Auditor for public accounting firms: Arthur Andersen LLP & a local firm
4. Accountant for our church
5. Wife & Mother (my favorite by far!)

3 people I would like to know more about?
Anyone reading that wants to answer!

Random Things

Tagged by His Doorkeeper...here are my 7 random things (and they're very random...for some reason I had a really hard time thinking of ANYTHING to write!?):

1. A really embarrassing moment was when I fell in the dust during P.E. in the 3rd grade. I had on (what I thought was) a cute new outfit of black jeans and a hot pink and black checkered button down shirt. I've never been one bit athletic, so I always HATED every P.E. class I've ever been forced to participate in. So we were playing kick-ball outside in the fall (it was too hot to be wearing my new outfit, but I was excited about fall clothes), and I was running when someone kicked the ball back at me and it went right between my feet. I fell face first in the dust, and when I stood up, my black jeans were covered in dust and I had dust in my mouth. Everyone was silent, and I was trying not to cry. My teacher told me I could leave and go up to the classroom and clean up.

2. Since I have no athletic ability, my hobbies have always been more on the artistic side...I love to paint (I took art lessons from 2nd grade to 12th grade I think. Oil paints are really my favorite, but not practical these days). I like to scrapbook and sew and bake (I used to like to cook, but I think for now I'm going to revise that to "bake" because making meals is just more of a chore in this season of life). But I do love to bake sweets...and eat them. We pretty much always have homemade cookies or a cake or brownies, etc. at our house. It's nice to have a good dessert after eating a microwave pizza or microwave popcorn! :)

3. I don't really like to shop for clothes. I always leave the store depressed about either a) the way the clothes look on me or 2) how much everything costs...or both. I don't mind shopping for shoes because I always wear the same size.

4. I do love to shop for little "stuff" like stationery, candles, home decor, kids' clothes, seasonal/holiday decorations, fabric, scrapbook paper, etc. I can spend $5 on cute note cards or decorative Easter napkins at Target and come home really happy.

5. I like Harley Davidson motorcycles. I've always thought motorcycles are really neat, and my Dad bought Harley when I was in college. We went on lots of rides and had a great time. He rode to Arkadelphia to visit me in college and we went to Hot Springs, etc. I was terrified to learn to ride (drive) it myself, but I wanted to. So one afternoon Dad & I went out on the bike, and he told me we weren't going home until I drove it! So I did. (It's really heavy.) But I haven't been on the motorcycle in a really long time because of Rhett and Alexee. I know accidents can happen any time/any place, but with kids I just can't bring myself to ride now--it just seems too risky. The other drivers on the road are just so careless! (I trusted Dad 210%). He's talked about selling it, but I hope he doesn't--it would make me sad because it has such great memories to go with it.

6. My college degree is in accounting. I don't really know why other than I planned to go into business, and I liked my Freshman principles of accounting class. Debits and Credits seemed "fun", so I moved forward with that degree. I worked for two different public accounting firms doing audits (and some tax work) for 3 years, then worked in private accounting for our church for a year (I loved that job!). I'm glad I went the accounting route because that is how Lane & I met (at the first accounting firm I worked for)...but that's another post, another day.

7. I like doing laundry. I don't like ironing it, but I like the sorting, washing, moving to the dryer, hearing the dryer bell ring, and folding the nice clean clothes. I like to try new scents of detergent and fabric softener...this makes the laundry process a little more exciting. Right now I'm loving Tide with baking soda and white lilac (I think that's what it's called) and the orange bottle of Snuggle (I don't remember the scent, but it's a good one). Household chores that I DON'T like include.............well, everything else I guess. :) Once upon a time, I kept my apartment really clean and organized and neat. But that was when I lived alone. That seems like an impossible task now.

I'd like to tag:
Heather
Flo
Lisa
Darcy
MK (have you done this already...I know you hate having to do them again--ha!) :)
Ashley P.