25 most adventurously random things…

or not. Here’s me:

1. I love ice cream – any time of year. But I prefer certain flavors with the seasons. Peppermint and Chocolate with orange slices – “gummy drop” style – cut up on top. yum. – trust me, like orange sticks, but better. 🙂 in the winter and Chunky Blueberry Cheesecake or any sherbet flavor in the summer. I haven’t picked favorites for spring or fall yet – I should get on that…

2. When I was younger I based how well my day had gone by the food I ate. I few journal entries: “today was a good day, we had tacos” “today was not so good, we had spaghetti”

3. I have had some very vivid dreams. A few have been animated and one was even in comic book form. I had to read what was happening. My reoccuring childhood nightmare involved the Count from Sesame Street chasing me up a huge flagpole and then taunting me from below – “One scared Becky… wah ha ha” (thank you? Julianne for reminding me).

4. My other dream jobs (besides being a mommy) include being a librarian in the children’s book section and an “all natural light” child portrait photographer.

5. The last one is why I would love a barn someday. The loft will be my many-windowed photography studio and the bottom could house all of Jim Bob’s wood-working tools. …and we will have sweet barn dances on the weekends. 🙂

6. Put lemon in my water and I am a happy girl. Jim Bob buys them up for me regularly. I have a container of lemon slices in my fridge just waiting. I am a happy girl often.

7. I make up for those “okay” dinner nights with fabulous desserts. Yes, we have had pb&j with carmel apples swirled in chocolate; pancakes with peach pie; pasta roni with chocolate fondue… and the list goes on.

8. Once, before we were courting, I dared Jim Bob to do a cartwheel in a sprinkler. He did. That’s when I started to fall in love with him. We went on our first date the next day. Months later, I *knew* I was in love when he brought extra kleenexes to church because he knew i was sick. Not only that, he even offered me his pocket to put my dirty ones in. We were engaged the next day.

9. I cannot play the trumpet well. I only played it for a semester though, so that might be part of the reason. Violin is in the same boat. Tuba, on the other hand, I rocked. I only played it one semester, but I was amazing. I even co-composed a tuba/piccolo duet called “Ticcolo Waltz” and performed it for my scoring and arranging class (Marsha on the piccolo, me on the tuba). That also was amazing.

10. Give me an outdoor picnic over any restaurant any day.

11. Sounds like I am very much like my sisters. We are all trying to or have learned the guitar. I don’t have great aspirations. I just want to know enough to play around a campfire. Just a few of the classics – “Little White Duck”, “La Bamba” and a few of my other favs. Right now my 2-year-old plays my guitar more than I do. He calls it “playing rock-n-roll”.

12. I have gone sky diving. I loved it. I would love to sky dive again.

13. Some of my happiest childhood memories involve playing in a hay loft and canning in a sunny kitchen full of produce at my grandparents house.

14. Many of my other favorite childhood memories are in the side yard of the house I grew up in playing “fruit salad”. … Oh, and the day that my mom gave us each a quarter of a cream pie. I will always remember that warm summer afternoon.

15. One of my favorite breakfasts is still a maple bar and cold milk (thanks to Sawtooth Foodtown and a similar-loving {craving?}) sister).

16. The best “beauty” tip I ever learned was from another sister – on those days you just can’t quite make it into the shower – put a little baby powder in your hands and rub it into your hair line. goodbye grungy shine – hello fifteen minutes.

17. Sprinkles and sparkles are two of my favorite words.

18. My favorite “club” I ever belonged to was the spy club that met during recess during elementary school. We kept faithful logs of our “spyings” and collected dues to pay for … snacks.

19. I consider one of my greatest talents the ability to fill and tie water balloons so quickly.

20. A fresh stack of books from the library makes me happy. So does fireplaces, s’mores in the wintertime and lights with dimmer switches.

21. I used to love surprises for gifts. I thought that showed true love. Now I LOVE having a whole list of gifts that I would like. Then I get “surprised” with which one Jim Bob picks from that list. works great. two happy campers.

22. I love having a “loose” menu system. A little structure with lots of flexibility. ready? Sunday=slow cooker, Monday=soup,salad,sandwich, Tuesday=pasta, Wednesday=breakfasty food, Thursday=homecooked goodness (meat and potato-type), Friday=pizza, Saturday=Mexican. Each Saturday I pick the meals for the next week. It’s similar to how my mom did it growing up. I think I might even have the same Tuesday/Wednesday nights.

23. My roommates in college teased me because I ate way more tortillas than bread.

24. I used to not like country music. I hadn’t even listened to it much. One of my roommates my sophomore year in college introduced me to Collin Raye. I loved. I bought the CD. It’s probably a good thing I love country music now that my hunny is a DJ for the local country station. I love listening to my husband on the radio, especially while I’m making dinner and cleaning the kitchen.

25. I love listening to him even more when he’s reading a book just to me.

chocolate on my tongue…..

I tucked Drewby into bed this evening (Jan.8).  We always tell secrets at bedtime (thanks to my incredibly wonderful sister Ruth).  Once when we were visiting “Hailey-Bailey’s Ruth”, we saw (not heard) her tell all her kiddos secrets as part of the bedtime-tucking-in routine.  She didn’t just tell her kids secrets though, she included ALL the cousins – oh, happiness.  So sweet – that was a few years ago.  This last summer she told them again, and it hit me that I could adopt that tradition.  (I know – took me a little while ;))  The only two requirements for a “secret” are that it must be whispered into an ear and it must start with “I love you more than…..”.  The rest is up to you.  I have been told that I am loved more than all the planets & stars in the galaxy, more than purple popsicles, pink rainbows and other as equally delicious phrases.  

Tonight Drewby told me that he loved me more than “chocolate on his tongue“.  

andrew_chocolate_on_my_tongue

Or so I thought.  When I said, “chocolate on your tongue??” with a hint of wonder, he said “NO!  hee hee hee hee – chocolate in my dump truck!!”  He loves his dump truck, so it’s quite the happy secret.

andrew_dump_truck

Especially if he meant THIS dump truck.

andrew_big_dump_truck

Spotlight: { Joshua }

upside_down

{picture taken by Joshua  :)}

Joshua is the best tackler.  He is very good at surprise tackles.  Jacob said that he and Joshua have a fun “silly giggly contest”.  Here’s how it goes down:  When one of them enters a room where the other is at, they look at the one in the room until they start laughing.  I made the mistake of saying “oh, a staring contest”.  I was quickly informed it is not.  It is much different, with a whole set of rules all it’s own.  But the “silly giggly” outcome is the same, no??

Joshua gives lots of hugs and kisses to everyone in our family.  He says that “anyone can create a kiss or a hug”.  It’s one of my favorite sayings of his.  Joshua says that he is an expert at “stabilizing snowmen” and Jacob vouches for that.  

snowman_masterpiece

snowman_stabalizing

 

Joshua’s favorite foods shift, but he will always eat German pancakes, pizza, cheesy chicken nuggets, mac and cheese and his favorite drink is CoLD, iCy water.

Joshua received a flying man with wings for Christmas this year.  It flies all over the living room.  I think he kinda-maybe-sorta likes it:

christmas_morning

It even made an appearance for show-and-tell.

Joshua is a dreamer, wisher like me.  He wishes on multiple stars every night.  He is not a strict wish-maker-keeper-never-tell-anyone-evah wisher (like myself) though, because he let me in on his ultimate wish:  200 packs of Winter Wonderland Wonka candy mix – a “whole forest” complete with Frosty Nerds and Snowball Gobstoppers.  Hmmm, maybe it’s better to let others know though, so they can help with the making-come-true part.  I know what he’s getting in his stocking next year.  😉  Maybe not quite in that quantity though.

We sure do think the world of our big-smiling, loving Joshua.

love, Andrew…

Jacob so kindly got all the toothbrushes ready for the kiddos a few nights ago.  He placed them on the table and then went about the bedtime-getting-ready-business.  I entered the room ready to help scrub away little cavity-bugs, but the toothbrushes were nowhere to be found.  Wha?  

I questioned the older ones, but they had no idea.  I turned around and found Andrew almost ready to burst.  Of course he was waiting, so I asked, “Where are toothbrushes Andrew?”

The words erupted forth…”In the tree!” Hee heeeee heee  “The tree with no star”  hee heeeeeeee heeee

And there they were – right in the tree.  The tree that I had just pulled all the ornaments off of.  The Christmas tree that was now bare except for it’s lights…. and four toothbrushes.  What a fine decoration!  

sitting_in_a_tree

We had a fun little treasure hunt finding all the toothbrushes.  And I shall not be surprised when the toothbrushes find a new vacation spot.

It reminds me of a funny joke my little brother John once told me (warning, he was quite young). 

John:  Why did the horse climb the tree?

Me:  Hmmm, no idea

John:  To brush his teeth!!!

Me:  Huh?

John:  Get it??  Leaves are green and toothpaste is green.  

Me:  Ah, yeah.  Now I get it.

And obviously, so does Andrew.  🙂

Spotlight: {Drewby}

Jim Bob started a fun tradition tonight for part of family night.  Spotlighting one of our youngsters.  They always love being the center of attention. Jacob had a fun talent tonight – showing off his looooong legs as he ran through the living room and kitchen.  silly fun kid.  So, Jacob finished his talent and Daddy up and says it’s time to focus on Andrew, aka Drewby.  He is now 2 1/2 years old. Drewby just grinned so big and let all the funny, good, charming, quirky things be said.  The list?

* He loves directing music.  He does it during church, when we sing as a family, during movies and oh, anytime.  He has a “leading-singing” stick (that was commandeered from the back of a kite) that he carries with him everywhere – even to bed.  SO sweet.

leading_singing

*He loves music videos.  Daddy wasn’t sure if his favorite was the “Ooh Ooh song” (Sugarland), “Gone, Gone, Gone” (Allison Krauss and Robert Plant), or “Crush” (David Archuleta).  Andrew piped right up with “Gone, Gone, Gone“.   So, that’s his favorite for now.  He loves jamming to that one.  It is so catchy!  And the video has bubbles, disco balls and tinsel.  🙂  

gone-gone-gone

Andrew also really thinks it’s cool that there is a piano by the water in the “Crush” song.  so cute.

crush

 

* Drewby is a GOOD sharer.  He even offers sucks of his suckers to his siblings … and parents.  But only if they offer in return.  He loves his cowboy boots (no photo yet – for shame!) and every time we put them on he says “Erin loves these”.  Erin is his western-swinging, hay-bucking beautiful aunt.  Andrew also loves his adorable motorcycle jacket from his aunty Ruth.  He calls her Ruth-a.

sharing_suckers

*Andrew is fascinated by computers.  He even loves the one that has been broken for 10 months and is just a shell of a thing.  He also carries treasures around with him all day.  Tools, trains, and a camel I guess where his buds this time.  He is a happy-go-lucky, wonderful, essential puzzle piece in our family.  His hair is always messy – not to mention his face, but he sure is cute!  We LOVE our sweetheart Drewby.

computer_lovin

Out of the mouth of Jacob…

“If I close one eye all the way and keep the other one open a little bit, then I can see the world in old-fashioned black and white tv mode.”  

 

“Serious!”  

-Jacob

7 December 2008

(oh, I believe you bud!)

Merry Christmas!

 

 

Love from our family to yours!

girl's daddy

 

Just wrapped around the finger.  Both of them.  Katey’s biggest smiles of the day are ALWAYS when her daddy gets home.  Her eyes light up and his lighter shaded peepers do as well.  Pure love.

I'm Back!

That’s right – I’m back!  Expect more so very SOON!

a couple funnies. and an aspiration

Our library has a sign near the entrance. It says “Unattended children will be given an espresso and a free puppy.” lol!

I also noticed that “over-due” fines are printed at the bottom of our check-out receipts with a warning – “we know where you live.” Oh my!

I *heart* our librarians. I love our library and I love to read. I look forward to when I get to help at story hour once a month. It’s a wonderful thing. In fact, someday I would love to belong to the “Ladies Literacy Club”. I’m not sure what it takes, but my Grandma belongs and that is one of my life-time ambitions.

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