Tagged!!

I've been tagged. So, here are six fun facts about me. If you get tagged, do the same!

1. I don't particularly like talking about myself. I'd much rather brag or share stories about my kids or husband. This is probably why I stink at keeping a personal journal. If my posterity want to learn all about me, they'll have to glean stories from someone else, or read between the lines on the blog and in the scrapbooks.

2. I remember everybody. I remember faces, names, even sometimes birthdays and random factoids. I am usually shy, though, to say hello to an old acquaintance because I think that they won't remember me. With my ten year high school reunion looming, I would much rather just be a fly on the wall than actually attend the reunion (except I'm looking forward to getting the award for "Most Kids," I'm pretty sure I'll blow everyone out of the water).

3. Besides the Gospel and my family, I have two great loves. The New York Yankees and Twinkies. I know this doesn't come as a shock to anyone, but it's important in any list of facts about myself! I just got a Twinkie purse (so cool), and for my birthday one year a friend compiled a cookbook entitled "101 Things to do with a Twinkie." It's about the only cookbook I ever use.

4. Since we talked about two great loves, let's talk about my two great hates. The Boston Red Sox...no just kidding. They are down on the list, but two things I hate the most are cooking and animals. I hate to cook and bake. I dread it. And yet, I love to play hostess, have people over, serve them, etc. It's an idiosyncrasy of mine. And animals--they are gross, they stink, and domesticated, they are high maintenance. They belong outside, in the wild. I don't understand the fascination of going to a zoo to stare at animals. Sick! And yet, I keep doing it because my kids love it. Ugh.

5. I frequently say or do things to embarass myself, and I remember them long after I should. For example, about six years ago I got locked out of my house (through no fault of my own). I sobbed. I sobbed when my sister-in-law happened to drive by and rescue me. I sobbed when I called the locksmith. I sobbed when he got the door open. Holy cow! Was that worth crying over? Was I going to die? No! And I'm still so embarassed about that display. I do stuff like that all the time. I hope that someday I can grow into a graceful, but witty old woman who never says or does anything embarassing. It's my dream.

6. I'm a neat freak. Not a clean freak. Just a neat freak. I hate clutter, I hate messes, I hate when Luke takes leaves a trail of jacket, keys, wallet, cell phone, spare change, and finally shoes from the door to the couch. I often can't sit still until things are all in their place. This causes a lot of grief during meal times (gotta have the kitchen clean before I can sit down to dinner!), family night (just sit and watch the movie!), and on vacation (just sit down and relax!). A clean space is relaxing for me, though, and I actually enjoy the organizing. I also enjoy making lists, and the satisfaction of getting things done! I am glad, though, that I married someone who balances me, and that kids are literally forcing my to loosen up. They, in turn, (Luke and the kids), are learning to be organized and tidy.

All right, that's it! And Kelli, Gretchen, Lindsey, Alivia, Angie, and Melissa...I'm tagging you!

$1 Fun

Yesterday, we had a whole day of fun for only $1! That's my kind of day. We went to fire safety day at the fire station--ate hotdogs, climbed on the fire trucks, jumped in the bounce houses, and got fire hats. Then we drove to Fairfield for the Candy Festival--more bounce houses, game booths, and free candy, of course. We finally dished out a buck to decorate some cookies, of which Joshua and Emmeline simply licked the frosting off their popsicle sticks, ate the baggie of M&Ms, then devoured their cookies unfrosted. The best part of the day was the dunk tank. Emmeline threw her softball (well, lobbed...like an old granny) at the target and missed, so I told her to just go hit the target. She did, but the guy in the dunk tank fell toward her, getting her all wet. "I didn't know that was going to happen!" She had a good long cry. Moral: Cheaters never prosper!

I also have to report on Emmeline's first field trip. Again, I was tempted to follow the bus to the pumpkin patch and shadow her to make sure she was safe. However, I resisted, and she made it home safe and sound. Emmeline enjoyed the pumpkin patch...I think all the kids did, as it was raining and they pretty much just played in the mud for three hours. Emmeline came home with the ugliest pumpkin in the bunch. Seriously. It has a stem out both ends. Luke was joking that the pumpkin patch owners probably had an office pool going for when/if someone would ever take that pumpkin home. I'm pretty sure it's been there since 1952, so the winner probably got a jackpot. I can't believe I had to pay $3.50 for it. Anyway, the first field trip went off without a hitch, so that leaves one more "first"--picture day! Ah, it's almost a rite of passage to live for the rest of your life with at least one awful school picture hanging on grandma's wall. I can't wait!

Pictures!

Goodbye, Dad!
Walking to school!
Joshua's first day of preschool!
Benjamin's opinion of early mornings.
THIS is Joshua standing nekked in our trunk, right after falling into the fountain at the wedding reception. Notice his nose...that's from the day before, preparing for X-games 32 on his skateboard.

Pictures

The kids at the Angels game. We sat right above the bullpen, and the kids each got a baseball from there. Joshua carried his around with his mitt for a week until I finally convinced him to put it away so it wouldn't get lost (although, I was actually more worried about it breaking a window).

Emmeline's school clothes all laid out. Love the matching job!?

Emmeline making her lunch for the first day of school. I'm so mean...get your own food!!!

All dressed for the first day of school! I actually took pictures every morning for a week, but I'll spare you the photo show!

I have Pictures!!!!

Did we actually take a FAMILY picture? Wow! Almost everyone is looking at the camera!

Yay, pictures!!! These were taken at the San Diego Temple on Labor Day weekend. We took a short trip down there as our last hurrah before we left Los Angeles. I'm so glad we got to go...the San Diego Temple is gorgeous! Of course, so are my kids, so here are multiple pictures of them!

October

Ahhh, it's October. The most wonderful time of the year.


GO YANKEES!!!!!!