39 - 45

39. My favorite cake is yellow with chocolate frosting. And I don't mean fudgy chocolate frosting--Gross! I like milk chocolate from a can. I grew up with home made frosting, but after trying Betty Crocker's, I just can't go back. Sorry Mom.

40. I've been playing the piano for 21 years. That seems so long! I started plunking out tunes when I was about 4. Then I took lessons starting at 8-years-old and continued until I was 12-years-old. I used to be pretty good, but since I don't have a piano to practice on every day, I've lost it a little bit. Hopefully when Kasey and I have a house, I'll be able to get a piano and regain some of what I've lost.

41. I've worked 6 different places: Taco Time, Best Western, LCSC Library, LCSC Admissions Office (my shortest employment. I only worked there 3 days.), Arby's, and Dr. Allen, DPM (the best part was when I got to help with surgeries. Awesome!).

42. When I was little I wanted to have 10 children. Then after my first pregnancy, labor and delivery, I decided that 3 is a great number of children.

43. I love my iPod--even though it is technically Kasey's, I love it. My top 5, most listened to songs in December were:
Big Girls Don't Cry -- Fergie
Over & Over -- Tim McGraw & Nelly (So what if this song and the next are a few years old, I still love them.)
Light In Your Eyes -- Blessed Union of Souls
Accidentally in Love -- Counting Crows (This one is because of Makayla. She loves Shrek.)
What You Wish For -- Guster (A band my sister turned me on to several years ago. I love them!)

44. I'm the fourth child out of five in my family. I have 3 older sisters and 1 younger brother.

45. This one I think I may be stoned for, or boycotted and my blog will never be read again, but here it goes. I am not an animal lover. In fact, I'm so opposite that I'd go as far to say that I'm an animal hater. I will never have a pet--of any kind. I might make the exception of a fish. But fish remind me of cleaning the tanks in Mr. Hill's class when I was his T.A. So I probably won't even bend the no pet rule for a fish. Say all you want about how cute your puppy is, or how you have the best cat. Blah, blah, blah. It won't change my mind. I still hate them all.

This is probably a good place to stop now that I've officially alienated 97% or my 10 readers. So, if anyone is still talking to me tomorrow, come on back for my thoughts on New Year's Resolutions!

Kids Come Up With the Funniest Things

It feels like I've been posting a lot of stuff about Ellie lately. So today I've got a great story about Makayla. She says the most random stuff sometimes. It kills me!

Yesterday when I was cleaning, I found an old cell phone. Knowing that Makayla loves phones, I asked her if she wanted to have it. She took it from me and proceeded to dial the numbers. She covered the mouth piece and said, "You have to be quiet. I'm calling Aunt Wheezy." She started walking around the living room talking to my sister. I only overheard part of the "conversation" and it went something like this.

"This is Mary fair." (pointing to our nativity) "This is her baby, Jesus. Jesus lives in Texas. This is the angel. I really like angels. They fly up in the sky. Then they go see Jesus and Shell in Texas. Sometimes Uncle Charlie flies up, up, up in a airplane. And then he goes to see Shell in Texas, too. Aunt Wheezy, are you listening to me? Okay, good. My grandpa went to Texas, but he doesn't live there. He just lives in Idaho with my grandma. Just a second"

Then to me she said, "Mom, you have to be quiet. Okay?"

Back to the phone, "Sorry about that." She went on for a few more minutes before I heard her say, "Okay thanks for calling. Bye."

Suppressing a laugh, I asked her, "Makayla, does Jesus live in Texas?"

She looked at me like that was the dumbest question ever and said, "No, he lives in Heaven."

I have no idea where she comes up with most of this stuff, but she definitely makes me laugh.

I Really Don't Beat My Children

Ellie fell down today, catching her eye on the corner of a chair. Poor girl! I've never heard her cry so hard before. I dried her tears and a few minutes later this showed up above her eye.

OUCH!!

A dose of Tylenol and lots of hugs later, and she was all smiles again.

31 - 38

31. I love reality shows like American Idol and Survivor.

32. My birthday is in November.

33. I love to cook, but I also like having a little break now and then. Therefore, I think the best gifts are

34. gift cards to my favorite restaurants so that I can have a night off from cooking once in a while.

35. I really don't like red or yellow cars.

36.Tetris is the only video game that I can stand. I dislike all the other ones. Granted, I haven't played too many video games, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't like them.

37. Labor and Delivery with an epidural is the only way to go. I tried it once without--not great. Not even okay. It was horribly painful. Obviously. I'm all about the drugs!! I just look at the doctor and say, "Give me all you've got! Stat!" Okay, I don't actually say "stat." I don't even know what it means except "please hurry really fast."

38. One more. Before I had children I was completely organized. Now the best organization system I've got goes something like this, "I think I either put it in that pile or that pile, but I'm not positive. If you don't find it there, try the left pile of the second shelf of the computer desk." Now that's organization for you!

Let the Real Chasing Begin

My little Ellie has learned how to walk. It's so cute to watch her toddle around the apartment. I finally managed to get a video of her walking, as opposed to all the other attempts which turned out to be videos of her falling down a lot.

Anyway, there's no sound, but if there were, you would undoubtedly hear The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, or some other Disney Princess movie. Because unfortunately, they are the only movies we watch between the hours of 7am and 8pm. No other movie/show is acceptable to my 3-year-old. If you watch her closely in the background, you will see that she rarely takes her eyes off the tv.

Wait! This post is supposed to be about Ellie walking. Yay Ellie!


p.s. Please ignore the mess. I have better things to do on Kasey's day off than clean the apartment.

Writer's Block

I've been suffering from a severe case of writer's block lately. I remember a time, not too long ago, when I had to restrain myself from posting 3 or 4 times a day. Of course there were some days when I gave in and posted that many times anyway. Perhaps that was unwise as now I've run out of things to say. Which for those of you who know me, that seems an impossibility. I can usually talk forever.

But now I realize that I'm writing about having writer's block. So before this post becomes more boring (as if that was possible), I'll simply say, check back after Christmas for a post worth reading.

Merry Christmas to you all!

And I Thought the Ignoring Didn't Start Until the Teenage Years

This morning I was trying to get Ellie's attention. I kept repeating her name, but she was very focused on whatever it was she was looking at and had no interest in looking at me or listening to what I had to say. So I got right in front of her, two inches from her face and said, "Ellie, look at me." She put her little hand on my cheek, pushed it to the side and said, "Watch out!"