Fun Facts About Me

~ What is my Favorite Gift from my Dad: For my Sixteenth Birthday my dad gave me a set of scriptures. I know this doesn't sound like much to some people but for me it was awesome. My dad had been inactive ever since my parents got a divorce when I was eleven. I never quit loving my dad but I was so hurt and disappointed that the values and morals he'd helped my mom to teach me all my life, now meant nothing to him. I was so scared that when it came time for me to get married in the temple, my dad wouldn't be able to come. I guess when he gave my a set of scriptures it gave me a glimmer of hope that he might still believe all he'd taught us. A glimmer of hope that I was important enough to want to be at my wedding. Hope that someday he would want to help heal the rift between us by coming back to the church. Now when I read my scriptures it always makes me stop and reflect on how far my dad and I have come. Our relationship is getting better and better all the time and he is worthy to go to the temple with me any time. 10/31/08

~ What Musical Artists have I seen in Concert: I had Garth Brooks tickets but I sold them for a nice profit, which I kick myself for now because I really like his music. I have been on the fourth row of a Boys-to-Men concert. I worked at a Clint Black concert, and it ticked me off to no end when I saw a women with a tiny baby standing next to a huge blarring speaker. I am super duper excited to go to a Celine Dion concert with my sister-in-law in a couple weeks. 10/27/08

~ Who would Play me in the Movie of My Life: Well, my kids say it would be Sela Ward but Big D would say Amanda Bines. While Sela is beautiful I really like Amanda's sense of humor. I'm good with either canidate. 10/10/08

~ What was My Worst Sickness: I had the Mumps when I was in about the seventh grade. That was pretty humiliating having my mom take a picture of me looking like a chipmunk. But I don't think that was the worst. When I was in high school I was going to the ER, at least, once a month for about three months in a row. Finally I had exploritory surgery because they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. It ended up being Endometriosis. The doctors said it would be really hard to have kids IF I could have kids at all. I am very blessed to have been able to give birth to five beautiful children. My mom had a cousin with the same condition and she has never been able to have kids. I am truly blessed. 9/26/08

~ Where do I see My Family in Five Years: I would like to say I will be graduated from college, but I highly doubt it. I can't even start going full time for another two to three years. I will, however, be skinnier and more outgoing. People won't intimidate me as much as they do now. I see myself relaxing and enjoying life. Big D will be graduated from his masters program and pursuing a career move. He will finally be able to relax about finances and realize they aren't any thing to stress about (wishful thinking). Bug will be fourteen and really into boys, shoot. I wonder how long I can convince her they have cooties, it seems to be working so far. I promised Bug and Beaner $500 if they didn't kiss a boy until their sixteenth birthday, we'll see if that happens. Beaner will be twelve and a full blown teenager. She will just be going into Young Womens and I see her as really blossuming into a beautiful young woman. Bud will ten and a heart breaker already. He has huge eye lashes that already drive the girls batty. He will still be a bit shy but I see him as emerging into a leadership role among his peers. Bear will be eight and getting baptised. He will be a little spit fire and way into motorcycles. He will be going on all day trips with his dad in the hills. I will probably end up with a motorcross track in my back yard. 9/23/08

Fun Facts #5

~ How Did Big D and I Meet: I don't know the exact day we met because he and my brother, Brook, were best friends growing up. Big D was always at our house because he loved the chaos of all the kids, Big D was pretty much raised as an only child because there is so much difference in age between him and his brother and sister. I do know that I was not interested in Big D until he was on his mission. At church I would walk by his plaque on my way to class and every week he got better looking to me. I think the Lord was trying to change my adolecent views of him. When Big D got home from his mission my oldest brother, Itchy, told Big D he should ask me out. Big D said I was too young, He thought I was still the same 16-year-old that I was when he left. When he found out I was 18 he started mulling over the idea. The next day he asked me out and I was flabbergasted, don't ask me why I'd never been flabbergasted when a guy asked me out. I changed my cloths multiply times trying to find the right outfit. I couldn't quit smiling, I think my heart knew something I didn't. I had recently gotten out of a long term long distance relationship that almost ended up in marriage before I broke it off, I was NOT looking for another relationship, but tell that to my predate gitters.9/17/08

~ Our First Date: I felt like I was dating my brother, which can be good and bad, not dating your brother, but feeling like you are dating your brother. It was good because I was able to relax and not feel like I was on a date with a total stranger having to start from scratch. We already knew a lot about each other. Conversation came easy to us, as did the teasing. We went to dinner and a movie, I know, how original. But it was one of the best dates I've ever been on just because of who I was with. At the movie, 'Casper the Friendly Ghost', we sat next to a lady and her infant little girl. Big D had his arm around my and playing with the baby. I told him that this was the first date I've ever been on that my date had his arm around me and holding hands with another girl. I think it was all a ploy to let me see how good he was with kids, he was just trying to melt my heart and it worked. After the movie we took his '79 Trans Am for a spin, he let me drive. He says this is where I fell in love with him. I had my hand on the gear shift and he set his hand on top of mine, ah how sweet and romantic. We had a great time together and we didn't have to do anything earth shattering, just being with him was shattering the earth as I knew it. 9/16/08

~ Our Second Date: I don't want to scare you that I am going to go through our thirteen year relationship one day at a time. The second date was very funny and I still raz him about it. We went to the go-cart track. We had to wait our turn so we sat down on a trailor to talk. I am deaf in my right ear, which Big D forgot because he sat down on the wrong side of me. He leaned over and whispered in my ear, I turned my head to ask him what he said and to my surprise he planted a big kiss right on me. When he pulled away and saw my eyes bulging out of my head he started back peddling and apologizing. He said, "I'm sorry, I asked you if I could kiss you." I reminded him that I was deaf in that ear and I was turning my head to ask him what he said. He thought I was turning my head in acceptance. We had a great laugh and I don't think he's ever forgotten which ear I'm deaf in again. 9/15/08

~ What are My Hobbies: I enjoy writing (obviously), photography, scrapbooking (but I havn't been able to do it in over six years), woodworking and gardening. I know there's more that I really enjoy doing but they are all such guilty pleasures that I don't ever get to do them much. I think the only thing I do often on this list is the writing, and I feel guilty for how often I do that. 9/14/08

~ My Favorite Calling at Church: I was in the Young Women's for about three years. I held various positions: camp leader, Mia Maid Advisor, and First Counselor in the presidency. I guess I don't really seperate those callings, I like to refer to my time in the YW's as one long calling. I served under two different presidents whom I grew to love and respect tremendously. Some people complain about how much work goes into the YW's program, but I saw it as an opportunity to serve and in turn grow to love the girls and their individual personalities. I think I realize the saying, "you love whom you serve". I've never worked harder and received more reward. 9/13/08

Fun Facts #4

~ Who was my Favorite Teacher: I would have to say my sixth grade teacher, Mr. Horrocks. He was a gentle giant. My brother, Brook, had him before I did, which most of the time really backfires for me. I think he liked Brook's creative imagination so the repercussions weren't too bad. I don't know why he was my favorite, it could have been a combination of his teaching and that it was just a really good year for me. I do remember once we had a substitute teacher and I didn't know her name. I had to go to the restroom so bad I leaned over and asked my girlfriend, Jen, what her name was. She told me her name was Ms. Queer. I know I was naive but I had no idea what a queer was. I went up and asked, "Ms. Queer may I go to the restroom?" Ooh she was so mad at me she started screaming at me and would not let me go to the restroom. I thought I was going to explode. Okay that had nothing to do with Mr. Horrocks. He had a unique rewards system where we could earn points and then buy stuff with those points. I remember once I won a six pack of Pepsi from him for guessing how many beans were in a jar. I don't like Pepsi but I drank the whole thing just because I was so proud of myself. He also let us pick our own spelling words, which in sixth grade was so cool and of course we all tried to out do each other finding the hardest spelling words. It went great until one day a guy named Jared put a huge medical word up that was longer than the alphabet. After that Mr. Horrocks decided he'd better choose our words for us. The sixth grade was a great year all around. We were the oldest now, the rulers of the school. I went through boyfriends like they were candy. My best friend was in my class and we had the teacher everyone else wished they could have. It was a great year! 9/12/08
~Where Was I on 9/11/01: I was walking on the treadmill watching TV when they broke in with the news report from New York. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I sat down on the corner of my bed right in time to see the second plane slam into the next building. It was all so surreal and then the buildings collapsed. I cried for the people who were hurt, I cried for the families who lost a loved one, and I cried for the troops who I knew would be called up to retaliate for this atrocity. 9/11/08
~ What is my Favorite Day of the Week: I love Sundays, they are so peaceful and I love going to my in-laws for dinner. We've been doing Sunday dinners for almost thirteen years now, I never thought it would last that long. I thought my mother-in-law would get sick of us mooching and put an end to it, but I think we've grown on her. She always has the best meals: Salmon in dill sauce, fillet Mignon, bread pudding, Geraldine's rolls, etc. She just makes us all feel so welcome and relaxed when we come over, I bet we take a nap almost every Sunday over there. Of course then we end the evening with a little Funniest Home Videos. Who can ask for a better day? 9/10/08
~ How Many True Best Friends Have I Had: Not counting my hubby who is my ultimate BFF I've had four. C, whom I'm still in contact with, Emily whom I'm not in contact with but I keep tabs on, Heather whom I'm not in contact with, and lastly Jennifer whom I've recently found after a ten year loss of time. I've never made friends easily but once I make one they are in my heart forever. I wish I was a better friend maybe that should be one of my goals. I should have to make contact with all my friends and resurrect our friendships. 9/5/08
~ My Security Object When I Was Younger: When I was about tenish I got a white teddy bear for Christmas from my mom. My sister got a black one exactly like mine and she wanted mine. My mom asked if I would be willing to trade her. "I don't think so doesn't she know that white is my favorite color?". I carried that teddy bear around with me every where. I even dreamed about it, that's how I came up with it's name, Oochy. I know ten is a bit old to start with a security object but it was around the time my parents were getting a divorce and I need a constant in my life that I could count on. 9/4/08

Fun Facts #3

~ My First Job: I worked at Little Caesars for about a year when I was a Sophmore. I remember my first day of work I was taking orders on the phone and I got this creepy guy on the line. I told him the daily special and asked if I could take his order. He said in a very leery voice, "I want you." I didn't think I heard him right so I asked him to repeat himself and he said, "I want you." I told him, "I'm sorry that isn't on the menu can I get you anything else?" I was a bit flabergasted at this point. Come to find out it was my boyfriend playing a trick on my. I thought it was pretty funny after the fact. Come to think about it I think I kept the job longer than I kept the boyfriend. Hmm. 9/3/08
~ My Motto: I have had a couple different mottos in my life: "Don't put off for tomorrow what I can get done today" "Do unto others as I'd want done to me". All very good mottos but none of them are original. My newest motto I got from Big D when I went back to school. I get overwhelmed really easy and when I do I tend to shut down unable to function, I know not an admirable trait. Big D sat me down and explained that I am going to school for fun not for an education that I am going to have to turn into a career to provide for our family. There is not a time line on when I have to finish I can just sit back and enjoy the journey. Now I have that posted on my desk top "Enjoy the Journey". Everytime I start to get overwhelmed I read that and it helps me focus on what is important in my life. 9/2/08
~ My first day of school: I was petrified as I rode the bus to my first day of Kindergarten. I had moved to the area recently and I didn't know very many people. There was this little boy, Brandon, who was my neighbor and we had played a couple times. His mom rode the bus with him the first day and I don't know why but she made me feel better just by being there. It was like having an adult I recognized was good maybe my mom really wasn't shipping me off to the middle of no where never to return. However, on the return trip from school it was raining and there was no mom there to comfort me. I lived about 50 feet from the bus stop and the instant I got off the bus I was drenched. The water was coming down so hard that I had a hard time seeing where I was going. I couldn't see my house I thought someone moved it on me. It took me a good fifteen minutes to walk half way home I was scared I sat down on the corner and cried. I was right in front of Brandon's house his mom came outside took me into her house, called my mom to tell her where I was and gave me some hot chocolate. Brandon and I played until the rain stopped and I could see my house again. Brandon and I became best friends that day and we did every thing together after that. I told everyone we were going to get married someday. We never did get married but I still consider him one of my very best friends growing up. 9/1/08
~ Our 4th of July tradition: Every year for the week of the 4th we go to Island Park for a family reunion. However, about five years ago we were sitting at the golf course waiting for the firework show to start, I was in the jeep feeding Bud, and all the huge fireworks for the show blew up. They were going every where shooting fireworks into the audience everyone was jumping for cover. It sent a pregnant women into labor and the city got sued by someone in the audience. Needless to say they don't do fireworks anymore. So now on the 4th we go to up to Billings, Montana to watch their fireworks with our friends. We still go to Island Park every year but now we take a jaunt up to Montana as well. I love adapting our traditions to make them better and better. 8/31/08
~ If I am on a deserted island what 5 things would I want: Well first off I'd want Big D, no one wants to party alone. Next I would want a nice big beautiful leather bound journal, with a pen, so I could write about all my experiences, you know for whom ever finds our bodies later. Next I would like Big D's tool belt full of tools so he can build us a little hut while I sip cocnut juice on the beach. I'm pretty sure that counts as more than one item but it's my fantacy so I say it's all one item. I think a boat would be nice to have as well, not for leaving the island, but so we could take nice romantic jaunts around our island. 8/30/08

Fun Facts #2

~ Who Is My Hero: My hero is my mother, I know it's no surprise most people say that. I think that is an omage to mothers around the world. My mother is my hero because she taught me perserverance, patients, and how to raise good kids. I get compliments about my children being well behaved and I truly believe that is a compliment as much to my mother as it is to me. My mother went back to college when she was 38, worked a full time job, and raised six kids all by herself while doing it. Life wasn't easy for any of us but we learned how to stick up for each other and have formed an unbreakable bond with each other. It breaks my heart when I hear of someone who hasn't spoken to their siblings in years. I can't go one day without emailing, speaking, and seeing at least one of my siblings. I know we owe that all to my mom. I love you to eternity and beyond mom!!! 8/29/08
~ Who Would I Choose For My Leading Man: I think all who know me already know the answer to this one, Mel Gibson. I know he's a bit older than I am and no I don't have daddy issues. I think Mel most resembles Big D, stop laughing. Mel's sense of humor, some of his manorisms and, of course, his dashing good looks all remind me of Big D. Since I already have my leading man I am good to go. 8/28/08
~ Some Thing I Inherited From My Parents: I inherited my mom's beautiful finger nails. I had a teacher in the fourth grade who told me it should be illegal for someone as young and unappreciative as me to have finger nails that looked french mancured without any effort. That made me feel so good, and I do believe that was about the time I started taking better care of my nails.
I inherited my dad's beautiful olive skin that does not burn very often. I can't tell you how many times I've been out in the sun all day and everyone else is burned to a crisp and I am a nice golden brown (I sound like I'm a piece of chicken or something). 8/27/08
~ My Favorite Pet Growing Up: Jeremy our cocker spanial. We got him when I was just a pup myself, I was around 8 or 9 years old. On Christmas Eve I walked into the bath room to relieve myself and this ferocious beast jumped at me. I have a blood curtling scream which woke my parents. They came in the bath room to find the beast attacking me with it's tongue. After they got me all calmed down they let me in on the secret that the puppy was a family gift. I couldn't sleep after that I was too excited to play with our new puppy.
Jeremy had a nice life with us until one day the neighbor boy tried to force feed him sunflower seeds. I kept telling him to knock it off but he didn't listen until finally Jeremy lost it and bit the boy right on his face. He had to go to the hospital and get stitches and the doctor said if the bite was just a little more to the right it would have killed him. My parents were petrified of being sued so my dad took Jeremy, and his gun, and left. I was wrought with tears until my dad came home and said he found a nice farm for Jeremy to live on. It wasn't until I was about twenty-seven that I realized what the "farm" ment. 8/26/08
~ My Favorite Band/Musician: Back in the 80's I really enjoyed rock bands like Poison, Bon Jovi and Def Leopard. Now that I'm old I like softer stuff like Josh Grobin, Celine Dion and Michael Buble. 8/25/08

Fun Facts About Tiff

~ My Favorite Car: For the longest time it has been my secret, and sometimes not so secret, desire to own a 1965 Mustang. As I am maturing and I realize there are a few modern comforts I can live without, such as, air conditioning, power steering and cruse control. So I think I would settle for the new Camero that they used on the Transformers movie. 8/24/08
~ My Most Selfish Desire: I live in an older part of town in a home that was built back when builders added character to their homes. I have always loved older homes. When I drove by this house, before it was even on the market, I called my realtor and told him I wanted the house. It is perfect for my family and in the perfect location. However, there is this house right across the street that is all beautiful red brick, built around the same time as mine so it has character, the lot is twice as big as mine and so is the house, and it has a front porch (I love stooping). I've been teasing my husband for years that if it ever came on the market I would pounce on it. The little old lady who lives there took me for a tour one day and after that I couldn't quit thinking of every thing I would do to it if it ever became my decision. Big D, frustrated with all my wishful thinking, said, "You know you are coveting thy neighbors house?" I'd never thought of it that way before but that is exactly what I was doing, I'm so bad. I'm not going to lie to you, if it ever came on the market I would still do every thing in my power to attain it, which isn't much. I just don't have the thought in my head, "This will be mine. Oh yes it will be mine." Now I look at it as if it's ment to be it will happen. Some times I feel naughty like I am secretly cheating on my house, which if I had to live the rest of my life in this house, I would be fine with that. 8/23/08
~ My Worst Date: I was dating a young man named Jimmy. We were out with a group of friend, at least two car loads, looking for an open bowling alley. Tyson, the driver of the car I was in, missed his turn so he cut down an alley. In the alley was a gang of drunk young men. We slowed down and waited for them to move and then drove on. We stopped infront of the closed bowling alley and exited our vehicles to discuss our options with the car behind us (this was back before the time everyone had cell phones). As everyone's talking the gang came out of the alley and started yelling at Tyson saying he tried to run them over. My date grabbed me and threw me in the car as a fight broke out. It was a good thing the gang was drunk, their blows weren't as hard as they could've been. We all got back in our cars and got out of there before someone got seriously hurt but I was so shaken up after that. I had a hard time going to that part of town for years, and never at night. 8/22/08
~ My Earliet Memory: We were living behind, what is now Jefferson Elementry. I was probably about two or three. I had a nightmare and came out of my bedroom looking for someone to comfort me. My parents were still awake, so it couldn't have been too terribly late. However, I thought they were awake just for me. Of course I was a daddies girl so I always felt safest in my daddies arms. We had a special bond he and I, it's like his heart reached out and soothed mine. 8/21/08
~My favorite color: For the longest time it was white, but every one would argue with me that white isn't a color. So until white gets inducted into the Hall of Colors, I choose Sage Green. 8/20/08