Blog Challenge

Day 4- a habit I wish I didn't have

Gotta love these negative things you have to point out right? To start out with this in high school my best friend used to call me Mrs. Ears because they were so different than everyone elses. Not by just looking so much, but by feel. I remember she used to ask to feel my ears all the time. They are super thin, not much cartilage to them and so they bend really easy. I used to take rings and roll my ear up and put the ring over my whole ear. Not sure if that even makes any sense.

Because they are so thin and flexible I often find myself rolling them and stuffing them inside my ears. Especially when they are cold because then it helps to warm them up. I find myself rolling my ears all the time. While reading or watching tv. I have even seen it in videos that I have been in. I don't think it is harmful to my ears since I have been doing it forever, but I would like to maybe not do it because people will think I am weird and freakish. I should have been in a freak show....

Blog Challenge

Day 3- what makes you different from everybody else

What kind of question is this? Oh wait, I got it. I have a big something that makes me different at least physically. I have a tailbone that curves out instead of in. If you have ever seen Shallow Hal and the guy with the tail.....similar. I can't wiggle mine but it stick really far out and can be a nuisance when trying to sit on something hard or do something everyone takes for granted a sit up. I know that there has to be other people out there with this, but none that I have known personally. Anyone super jealous???

Blog Challenge Day 2

Day 2- meaning behind blog name

Boy I guess this one will be pretty easy. I know most people who read my blog are already members of my church and know the importance of families to us. If you are not, then the title has to do with why we are here. Families. The whole purpose and what our lives revolve around. We started as a family with our Heavenly Father and now we are making our own families here on earth. My family truly is everything to me. I rely on everyone whether they know it or not. I gain confidence and courage from them. I also have come to love family so much more with having kids of my own. How great to live through them and see them blossom and grow and become something great from something so small. There really is nothing better. Hence my title "Families Are Everything".

Blog Challenge Day 1

Day 1- a recent picture and 15 interesting things about you

1. My husband and I share the same first name. (And now the last as well)

2. I had braces twice when I was young. Once around age 5 or 6 and then again my jr. year of high school.

3. I hate hate fish. I try all the time to just eat it because I know it is good for you, but sometimes it just won't go down.

4. I have a hard time talking with people I don't know. But once I get to know you that ends quickly.

5. I have ran 2 half marathons and training for my first full in May.

6. I love to read books, and something with a romantic notion for me is best. I love a good love story.

7. I used to faint A LOT as a teenager and would do so in some weird places. Water park, shower, at work just to name a few.

8. I have over 100 college credit and no degree. I kept changing my mind on my major and that obviously got me nowhere.

9. I love sweets. I know this is something everyone does, but for me it is really bad. I have been known to eat a whole pan of brownies or a whole package of oreos.

10. I think I am border line OCD because I like things done and organized in a certain way. I even have to push the alarm button like 10 times before bed to make sure the time is right.

11. I have a pet peeve about bad breath. If you got it, I want to be 100 feet away from you.

12. I have never had a traffic ticket although I have come close a couple of times.

13. I love dogs and have always wanted one of my own. Go figure I would marry a dog hater and only had one for a short amount of time. I will get one when the kids are older and we are in a house of our own. Hopefully.

14. I hate being cold. In the house I wear sweats and wool socks all the time. Don't know how it doesn't kill me on cold mornings to run, but I think since I don't feel cold it makes all the difference.

15. I hated my grade school years. I always look back and cringe. I really did get picked on a lot and some days I hated just going to school. Maybe that is one reason I try so dang hard to blend in with everyone.

30 Day Blog Challenge

I was reading my friend Julie's blog (hi Julie) and came across this idea for a 30 day blog challenge. I love the idea because it will give me something to write about. Sometimes I don't post because I don't feel I have anything interesting to write. But I liked these questions and I figured why not. Here is the list:



Day 1- a recent picture and 15 interesting things about you
Day 2- meaning behind blog name
Day 3- what makes you different from everybody else
Day 4- a habit I wish I didn't have
Day 5- a picture of somewhere I've been
Day 6- who is my favorite superhero and why
Day 7-a picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 8- short term goals for this month and when you'll accomplish them
Day 9- something you're proud of in the past few days
Day 10- music you listen to when you're bored, happy, sad, mad, hyped
Day 11- picture of your high school friends that meant the most to you
Day 12- how you found out about blogger and why you have one
Day 13- a letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14-a picture of you and your family
Day 15- the last ten books you read were
Day 16- You are happiest when...
Day 17- someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- plans/dreams/ goals you have for this year
Day 19- nicknames you have and why you have them
Day 20-why do you live where you live
Day 21- a picture of something that made you happy this week
Day 22- a picture of you and your friends
Day 23- something you crave a lot
Day 24- a letter to your parents
Day 25- what I would find in my purse
Day 26- something /someone you miss
Day 27- a picture of you this time last year. How have you changed?
Day 28-your favorite article of clothing
Day 29- the last ten movies you've watched
Day 30-in this past month, what have you learned?


If you want to do it as well I invite you along. What a great way to get to know someone. Tomorrow I will start with day 1. This gives me time to find a recent decent (ha ha that rhymes) picture of me. See ya tomorrow.

Hailey Birthday and Run

Hailey Turned Two!!! We just kept thinking how fast time has flown even since leaving Tulsa. She was so little when we moved here and now she is walking around singing dancing and making everyone fall in love with her. We have tackled a lot of first with her and the final dread will be potty training which I am putting off till after vacation time this summer. She really has been such a joy to have in our family and has made it complete.

Friday was her actual birthday so we had us a mother/daughter outing. It was nice and I know she felt special. We went to Wal-mart to spend her birthday money and got some great gifts for her. Then we of course went to Panera for lunch. She LOVES Panera. I will get her a kid mac n cheese with the yogurt and she eats every bit of it. The picture alone tells you how much she loves it.

Then we made our way to Martin's to buy her birthday cake. I was going to make one, but I thought she would like a big one from the bakery. That night Lexie had a birthday party so she was gone during the present opening and cake. But it was so fun to see Hailey enjoy her special day.

aww yes JoJo the bunny that plays hide and seek. Grandma Rollins got this for Hailey and she loves it. We had to take it back and exchange it at Walmart because it did not speak English. It wasn't Spanish either. It almost sounded German. It was pretty funny though.

Hailey with all her goods. Thank you for the phone which she got from her Esquibel grandparents. She loves it and carries it around everywhere. Mom and Dad got her the talking picnic basket with shapes and colors.

What a good brother to help her out. I didn't get a picture of her blowing out the candles because she didn't. I tried to get her to, but as I held the cake up she started crying for fear of the fire. At least I won't have to worry about her playing with fire. So I blew them out for her and then got her a huge piece of cake and ice cream.

Oh yeah that is some good stuff.

I had to mention my long run yesterday and how hard it was. The wind here was horrible and had gust up to 50 mph. But we still went and ran around town. Talk about resistance training. We got 12 miles in at an average pace of 8.30 which is pretty good considering. Hector thought I should eventually try to qualify for Boston, but I think right now I just want to finish the marathon in one piece.

The Raw Deal

I was talking with my Bishop and his wife at one of our activities and we were talking about whole foods and things of that nature. Sister Castle mentioned that they drive up to Chambersburg PA to buy raw milk from a dairy farmer up there. So everyone knows that your milk goes through processing to remove all the bacteria so you won't get sick. Well, you can buy milk straight from the cow udder like they used to drink it. I asked if I could buy a half gallon and try it. It is really expensive, it was 3.25 for this half gallon so I could not see buying it for the whole family. The cows are grass free range and so they are not penned up and have less risk of getting that bad bacteria on the udders and in the milk.

So she dropped it off yesterday and I was a little scared to try it. You actually have to shake it really well before drinking because the cream rises to the top. Corey and I both gave it a whirl this morning and.....IT IS WONDERFUL. I like whole milk, and this reminds me of it. But it is still so different even from that. I have always wondered what fresh milk from a cow would taste like and we really don't know what we are missing. Now I have to enjoy my last of the half gallon and then go back to the not so yummy stuff. Maybe if we were rich I would start buying it too.

Catch Up

I am a slacker yes, but with three blogs going I find myself falling behind on one or the other. Logan had his first pinewood derby and his car looks speedy fast right...I mean look at those flames and red hot paint. I can see smoke just trailing out of the back.


Well we had last place... and I mean dead last. He was the last car to cross on all the heats. He was ok at first, then he started to cry. Everyone says this is the time to see tears because there is always that really slow loser. Well we got it this year. He was so sad that his car sucked and I felt bad that we didn't do a better job. So next year we are determined maybe not to win, but at least not to come in dead last.


And while we are there I notice Gabe with his shoe saying he has a hole in it. That is not the right word, I would say a canyon or a crater. This whole was huge and basically he was wearing his shoe like a sandal. I was so embarrassed that he was going to school looking like that. His teachers must have thought he was homeless. We took a trip to the store the next day and got him new ones.

Notice the lip quiver and the sadness. This is Logan looking so so upset. I just wanted to hug him but that would not be manly so he just tried his best to hold it together.

Corey felt so bad afterwards that he took us all out for ice cream. Ice cream helps you forget all your worries right? It seemed to help with Logan and the other kids too.

There is that smile I love....next year Logan, next year.

No Bruno....NO

I was at a R.S. meeting and I was telling someone how much I loved Bruno Mars. I was just gushing about how great his songs are and I was so proud of my Bruno. Then one sister mentioned that he got arrested for drug possession. I told her, "not my Bruno, never." But of course as I did a google search I got this lovely headline:


Bruno Mars will plead guilty to cocaine possession

You can click on the headline to read the whole article. But I was so disappointed. What is wrong with our celebrities that they get so out of control. I still love his songs, but I just can't fan crush on him like I used to. Total let down Bruno.

Mrs. Grinch

I had to look really hard in the mirror today to make sure I was indeed my normal shade of yellow and not green. Even though I don't hold the physical characteristics of a Grinch I am sure if you looked at my heart it might be two sizes too small. I declared yesterday that I was done...yes I actually said that. After Hailey threw up all over the couch that we spent two hours cleaning just days before I was pushed to my mental limits. Of course Corey was not there, working late five days a week and not getting home till 8 I knew where I could find him though. I made a quick call and when he answered I simply said, "Hailey just threw up all over the couch again....I''m done." And then I hung up. As I was using the carpet cleaner to clean the couch again I thought, hmmm I hope Corey doesn't think I am done, as in DONE. I felt like I was though, and I almost had the urge to run screaming from my house pulling my hair. Of course Corey walks in and gently picks up Hailey, gives her a bath because she is still naked from puking all over herself, and gently puts her to bed. (but as a side note she threw up again about 30 minutes later and he had to strip down the bed and recover with plastic and new sheet.) Then he comes and just hugs me and asks if I am ok.

So wonderful husband right? He didn't get mad that I hung up, he didn't reprimand me because believe me I know I was being the biggest jerk ever. He knows me like a book, and knows I get so frustrated that I just need to vent. And he doesn't take it personal. After he was home for just five minutes I felt such a relief off my shoulders and the Grinch receded back into it's little heart for a time.

But then it re-emerges every time the phone rings and I see it is someone from church. I get so spastic about phone calls, because I know someone is wanting something. As a councilor in the R.S. they are supposed to contact me with questions and problems. But see, the Grinch is missing that compassion that is critical for that calling. My only problem is trying to get that love and compassion back and to actually want to help people who are in need. Most of the time I just feel it is inconveniencing my plans and my time. So the big question is how do I kick this Grinch out of here? No more room in the inn I say. (And please don't say do more service because I hear that all the time and I need to know how to want to start doing service.)

Another Blog

A couple of friends and I are on a mission to find some really good eats around Hagerstown MD. This page is dedicated to our exploits and what we find. Our first entry is just a feeler, so you might find it bland (hopefully not like the food we find). Just give us time and I am sure it will only get better. Check it often to find out what we are up to. I have added the link to my sidebar, or you can just click here.

Overload

Had three kids throwing up in one day. I did not think I would survive. Lexie was the only one who didn't throw up, but she sure looked like she might. This stomach flu was a bad one.

Logan finally feeling a little better, he got it first and threw up for three days.
Lexie was the only one who didn't throw up all over the place.

Gabe at his finest....I am such a nice mom huh.

Hailey was so miserable. She was the worst because she doesn't get the throw up in a bowl idea and so was throwing up everywhere...including me. Yuck.

And as an added bonus, school was cancelled today due to ice....great.