Tagged

My friend Cassidy had this tag on her blog. I tag everyone who reads mine!

1. Three biggest fears? Something bad happening to one of my kids, something happening to me so that I could't care for my kids, the overall embarrassment that ensues when we go out in public since nothing is happening to any of us

2. When was the last time you danced? Ten minutes ago. I'm a Jazzercise girl. It's kinda lame, but it works. I dance all the time with the kids! Love it!

3. Do you creep on stranger's blogs? Not really, I'd rather look at friends.

4. If you could go back to be any age for a day, what age would you be and why? My childhood, Brooklyn's age. I'd just like to understand more about her and where she's coming from. Honestly, I'm really happy now, where I am. I don't wish myself back to another time. Life seems to get better all of the time.

5. Are you a good liar? Sadly, yes, I can be. I'm a marketing major...I was properly trained. But when it comes to real life stuff and family and friends, no, not a good liar. (Except for the white lies that make people feel better.)

6. Do you judge someone when you can tell they've had elective cosmetic surgery? Are you kidding? Never really. I don't know how I feel about it. I probably would have never thought I would consider it, but didn't judge others. However, after seeing what having kids does to your body, who knows? Santa, baby...I've got a wish list!

7. If you have children, what's one thing that you always told yourself you'd never do when you had kids? Wipe snotty noses with my finger when no tissue was around.

8. What's something that totally grosses you out? Kids in general, love 'em, but see above question. So gross! Kids do the GROSSEST things. (ie: Tyler's poopy paci that I put in my mouth?!)

9. Do you ever delete forwards without reading them? Of course, who doesn't? Most of those are myths anyway. There is a great website that debunks all of them...don't remember the name.

10. Do you ever lie to get out of obligations? I usually try to tell the truth when I have to pull out. Usually people are understanding.

11. Consider your body weight and your yearly income at their present states. Would you rather be 200 pounds heavier and $200,000 richer or stay at your present states?
Stay at my present states.

12. When was the last time you bought a pair of shoes and what were they? Hmmm...love shoes, don't buy them much. I'm cheap. I bought some shoes for the kids at Payless a few months ago.

13. The Olympics. Take them or leave them? I LOVE the Olympics!

14. What's your favorite accent? It used to be Wisconsin, but I can't hear it anymore (scary), so now it's Austalian

15. What's your favorite scent? Babies (not stinky ones)

16. Gum or breath mints? Gum

17. If you could look like any celebrity, who would it be? I don't know, so hard to decide when you are practically perfect...ha, ha, ha...I don't know; someone who is trin and really pretty, not just make-up pretty

19. Do you religiously wear sun screen? Nope, but I'm learning to put it on my fair-skinned kiddies

20. Do you generally trust people/their motives or doubt people/their motives? It depends on the person...I trust people in general, but I am pretty sceptical about business and politics

21. Would you describe yourself as a complicated person or is what you see what you get? So complicated.

22. Do you watch what you eat? I wish I was better, usually I just watch it as it goes into my mouth

23. Do you watch what other people eat? Not really...except my kids...I guess when I'm busy with kids and eating, the last thing I care about is what someone else is eating...I have four mouths to feed

24. Do you judge how other people raise their kids? Not any more...what goes around comes around

25. Do you judge people who dress poorly? I try not to, but I do notice if it's obvious. I don't care about name brands and stuff...but not matching drives me crazy and when clothes are super out dated. "The eighties are calling, they want their clothes back!"

26. Do you judge people who are homely? No, like I'm super hot...

27. Do you judge people who are overweight? Nope.

28. Your interest in politics: High, Medium-High, Medium, Medium-Low, Low, Obsolete?
Medium high, but don't have time now to get too worked up or involved

29. Favorite song of all time? Can't do it...I love lots of music and lots of songs

30. Acoustic or electric? Acoustic...I'm a country girl...love that twang

31. If you were a hermit, would you shave? Yes, what else would I do with all that time?

32. If you could shave your head without your significant other throwing a complete hissy, would you? Never, my hair is for me, not for him

33. What was your least favorite age? I don't know? Those few years before 16, awkward lanky jr. high stuff kinda stinks

34. How many times a day do you check your email? Too much. 3 or 4?

35. Are you in a tiff with anyone right now? I'm not, but certainly someone may not like me

Sibling Rivalry

So, I have my kids close together with this insane, illogical, incorrect thought that being closer in age will make them closer friends. Or not. Ty and Brooklyn are to the point that not only do they fight over the same toys, but they delight in torturing each other. For example, when Ty is getting into something and he shouldn't be, Brooklyn screams "no!" to make him cry. We of couse, have the standard argumements because they always want the same toy or both want to touch the monkeys in the book when we read the book from Grandma. Then, the other night, I had them in the tub. Brooklyn intentionally and somewhat maliciously dumped water on Ty's head. It's eye for an eye around here and when she does that to him, she knows I will dump water on her head...so I did. She came unglued! Ty thought that was pretty funny and proceeded to try to dump water on her. It was funny to watch him laughing so hard he can barely stand up in the water while Brooklyn is screaming for him to go away. He's short enough that even when the water got her, it was just on her shoulders. Ty didn't care either way, he got her to SCREAM! Funny Ty. He couldn't stop laughing! There is honestly some enjoyment (sick, I know) in watching Brooklyn get a little of what she deserves...she's picked on him for the past 21 months and now he's learning to stick up for himself a little.

Top Ten Reasons Not to Invite Mortons' to Dinner

So, last Sunday, a kind ward member invited us to dinner. Of course, we took the kids. It was a very embarrassing experience and served to remind me that it's not wise for us to take our kids to dinner at someone else's house. Here's the reasons why....

#1 Having to ask the homeowner, "where is your plunger?" (Brooklyn clogged up the toilet with too much toilet paper)
#2 Brooklyn interrupting dinner, while naked from the waist down, to announce that the "tricky water" was making her cold (she had plugged up the toilet and the level of water had raised enough that her little bum got wet when she sat down on the seat)
#3 Morton children come armed with billy clubs (the Maglight flashlights that they like to take for walks...we walked to dinner on Sunday)
#4 Tyler getting into the cupboard and pulling out a package of baggies, one by one
#5 Tyler getting into another cupboard and finding all of the household chemicals
#6 Tyler shoving a toy shopping cart down the stairs toward and unexpecting baby
#7 Brooklyn crying, non-stop, about everything that doesn't go her way
#8 Kids that don't eat
#9 Tyler not eating dinner, but trying to eat the decorative fruit in the living room
#10 Do you really need ten reasons? Aren't the first nine enough?!

Girl Stuff

Hey, what is it about girls? Maybe it's just me, I don't know (I'll have to post a poll). Do you compare yourself to others? I've found for most of us, this isn't a comparison of "wow, I'm so hot compared to her" or "man, my kids may misbehave in public but I am so glad that don't act like Morton's kids". It seems that most of these comparisons make us feel worse about ourselves. I tend to notice that so-and-so has great hair, pretty makeup, is thin, has perky boobs etc., without seeing her flaws. I find myself a little plump after having a baby and wish "gosh, I wish I was thin again"...then when I lose a few pounds, I find myself saying "what happened to my boobs?! Hers are..." Anyway, am I making any sense? Then, in comparing, it's sad that I somehow sometimes find pleasure in seeing someone that I think "has it together" having a bad day. It's unfortunate for those I associate with that it makes me feel better about my life when I see that someone else has a messy house, or didn't do her makeup, or let their 3-year old dress themselves...nonetheless, I'm rambling and admitting something I'm working on. We're all on the same boat. We all have bad days...days that are kids' clothes don't match, days that the house is too messy, days that the laundry is piling up, days that it isn't worth more than a dab of mascara (if that). So, I just hope we can all be a little easier on ourselves and help each other out when we can!

Our House

Due to requests from out-of-towners; I guess I should post some pictures of our new house. I LOVE it! It's 80 years old, but very "charming". It has a lot of the cozy, country, farmhouse feel that I have always liked. Jake got his big garage and big lot...which is admittedly nice too. Of course, we've bought ourselves into an eternal remodeling project; but fortunately everything is functional and the remodeling we want to do is mostly for cosmetics. We had hestitated for a long time before we bought a house...before I forked out the money I wanted to find something that I liked enough to make it worth it. So far, I feel good about it. I love the new ward and it's nice to be closer to my "Kohl's" friends. We miss West Bend and the country; but I have to admit I enjoy living so close to Target, Home Depot, etc.