Apparently, I'm "It"

I've been tagged a couple times this week, by Tiffany & Leah, so here it goes. . .

Tagged for 5 (by Tiffany)

The rules list is as follows: Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog. Share (choose 1): Five random and/or weird facts about yourself. Five top places on your “want to see or want to see again” list. Five things you never pictured being in your future when your were 25 years old.

I listed seven random facts a while back and there is NO WAY I could narrow my top places to see or see again down to five. SOOOOO. . .

Five things I never pictured being in my future when I was 25 years old:

1. paying $2.89 (and more) for a gallon of gas

2. Louisiana & Missouri-even though I always said I did not want my future children graduating from Simi Valley High School (it was a great school but I wanted to break the family trend, it is where both my parents, myself, my three siblings, 4 cousins and plenty of aunts/uncles all graduated from), I never imagined that I would start a family of my own so far from my own parents/siblings. As much as we love our current living situation, I still get homesick for family.

3. Mini Van-I was one of those people who SWORE I would NEVER drive a mini van. But I am not ashamed to admit that I LOVE my Odyssey!

4. Water Aerobics-enough said. :)

5. Infertility-growing up, most things came fairly easy if I set my mind to something. I never imagined that I would not be able to get pregnant at the exact moment I wanted to (let alone after years of trying), so this whole infertility thing definitely threw (and continues to throw) me for a loop.





Lots more 5's (tagged by Leah)

Five things I was doing 10 years ago:

1. coaching (simi high jv soccer, malibu high softball, club softball)

2. living w/Robyn & Stephanie in Simi

3. deciding if Bryn was "the one." We had been dating for a year and a half at this point. Honestly, deep down, I knew he was "the one" shortly after we started dating, but because of past heartache, fear & just me being plain stubborn it took me a long time to admit it.

4. working part time for my dad

5. taking a marriage & family class at Fuller Seminary (trying to figure out a way to get a master's in counseling w/out accruing any more debt)



Five things on my to-do list today:

1. grocery shopping (Snow is in the forecast. I always feel the need to stock up when this is the case, especially on things like hot chocolate, diet dr. pepper, ingredients for cookies, you know, the essentials) :)

2. practice the guitar (I'm supposed to practice 20 min. a day. I have not been such a model student as of late, but my fingers are starting to hurt a little less)

3. laundry (on my to-do list every day)

4. pay my student loan (yes, I am still paying students loans, hopefully not for too much longer)

5. make sure Caelleb gets signed up for T-Ball (Bryndyn is actually taking care of this but I have it on my list so I can remind him)



Five things I will do when I am a millionaire:

(this particular list of five sort of contradicts my word for 2008, "contentment," but oh well, just for fun)

1. hire a housekeeper

2. TRAVEL (Africa, Australia, Asia, South America, just to mention a few)

3. Adopt a BUNCH '0 kids :) which leads to. . .

4. buy a bigger house (preferably somewhere closer to family & the beach)

5. pay off our debt & help family/friends do the same (and then start Sandlot w/Kathy)



Five things I will never wear again:

1. anything fluorescent (unless it is part of a costume or something)

2. Jelly shoes (or whatever they were called. I have a feeling people might be saying the same thing about Crocs someday)

3. Guess jeans

4. my high school letterman's jacket

5. a two piece swim suit



Five of my favorite toys:

1. digital camera

2. tivo

3. sudoku books

4. internet (blogger, goodreads, aol, everything on my igoogle reader)

5. books (any good book will do)



Five banes of my existence:

1. laundry

2. dishes

3. my weight

4. student loans

5. junk mail



I tag these five poor unsuspecting people:

1. Bryndyn
2. Lori
3. Sandi
4. Rachel
5. Kate
sorry, one more, MONICA--start a blog! :)

You're IT!

The Games We Play

#1 The Blame Game

Tia came to work w/me this morning. She had her own little office going on equipt w/a TV/DVD player, curious george movie, her v-tech computer, markers, crayons, coloring books, construction paper & sippie cup. At lunch I noticed that she had orange marker all over the sleeves of her white turtle neck. Not a big deal. I pointed it out to her and asked what happend (just to see what she'd say). Without even hesitating she replied:

Tia: Caelleb did it

Me: Caelleb's at school

Tia: Simon did it

Me: Simon who?

Tia: Simon Says!


#2 Twenty Questions

Still at lunch, the topic of Santa comes up somehow (ever since Christmas Santa comes up frequently in conversation with Tia)

Tia: What's Santa doing?

Me: Sleeping

Tia: Where?

Me: The North Pole

Tia: The nor-po?

Me: (laughing) Close Enough

Tia: He snoring?

Me: Probably

Tia: Like this (and then proceeds to make a snoring noise)?

Me: Exactly like that

Tia: What's his wife doing?

Me: Trying to wake him up so he will stop snoring

Tia: (after thinking for a second) Now what's Santa doing?

Me: He's still sleeping

Tia: No he's not. He's saying to his wife "LEAVE ME ALONE!"


OK, so that wasn't 20 questions, just funny. But trust me, the questions didn't stop there. Thankfully Bryndyn was able to meet us at lunch and take Tia home. Not that I didn't enjoy having her delightful company this morning, but it was definitely an exercise in MULTI-TASKING!

NUMB3RS

Supposedly today, Jan. 24th, is the worst day of the year. There is a formula and everything
(move over Charlie Eppes).

January Blues Day Formula: 1/8W+(D-d) 3/8xTQ MxNAW

W=Weather

D=Debt

d=Money due in January pay

T=Time since Christmas

Q=Time since failed quit attempt

M=General motivational levels

NA=The need to take action

(read more here).

Even though I don't fully understand the equation, I beg to differ. When I read/hear something like this my first reaction is to prove the theory wrong. I can't speak for the January 24ths of the past or the January 24ths in the future, but as for today, I have no complaints! :)

It sort of reminded me of something someone said in my water aerobics class a week or so ago. We were all jammed into the swimming pool when someone mentioned how crowded the class was. Another person's comment/explanation was, "It's still January." I promise you, that comment is all the motivation I need to be at the gym on Feb. 1st. As for the rest of the year. . . well, I plan on being at the gym then too.

How did everybody else's "worst" day of the year go? Did the formula prove to be true? Maybe I should submit this equation to Mythbusters! :)

Two Choices

Caelleb & Tia are always saying things that I think are so cute. I guess that is just part of my adoration for them. I'm sure most people probably don't "get" my fascination with the things they say. But one of this blog's purposes is to help me remember. Life is so busy and going so fast that (I admit) I am a little obsessed w/remembering. So, on that note . . .


I didn't have to work on Monday so I slept in. Normally, sleeping in would equal getting up around 8am (if I'm lucky). But I hadn't slept well the night before and knowing this, my sweet husband, let me sleep & SLEEP. At 9:30am he told Caelleb to wake me up and ask me if I wanted to eat breakfast. Caelleb comes in and says,

"Mommy, you have two choices: eat here or go to McDonalds" (he came up with this on his own, which I didn't realize until later--I thought Bryn had told him to tell me that. side note: it is sort of a ritual on Saturday mornings for Bryn and Caelleb to eat at McDonalds but they had not done that this past Saturday)

I asked him which he wanted to do (knowing full well what his response would be) but he surprised me and said, "No, you choose." :)

Bryndyn came into the room at this point and I asked him what he wanted to do for breakfast. McDonalds was his vote.

So, I asked Caelleb again what his preference was, to which he again told me, "NO! It YOU choice!" :)

I told him I would make the final decision but I would like to get his input. He thought about this for a second and said, "I think, McDonalds."

I pretended to weigh my options (while he waited very patiently for my "choice") and finally said, "I think we should go to McDonalds," to which his eyes lit up.

I love that at his young age he could set aside his own "wants" and (in his mind) allow someone else to get their way.

Just a sweet moment that I wanted to remember. Thanks for indulging me!

Saving Fish From Drowning

I recently finished Amy Tan's novel, Saving Fish From Drowning. There were about 75 pages or so that captured my attention but other than that I had a really hard time getting through the book. I couldn't relate to the characters and felt like the ending was pretty anti-climactic. The following two quotes were on the very first page of reading (before the chapter actually started). The first one (which obviously inspired the title of the novel) just seemed silly to me, ignorance at it's best.

A pious man explained to his followers: "It is evil to take lives and noble to save them. Each day I pledge to save a hundred lives. I drop my net in the lake and scoop out a hundred fishes. I place the fishes on the bank, where they flop and twirl. 'Don't be scared,' I tell those fishes. 'I am saving you from drowning.' Soon enough, the fishes grow calm and lie still. Yet, sad to say, I am always too late. The fishes expire. And because it is evil to waste anything, I take those dead fishes to market and I sell them for a good price. With the money I receive, I buy more nets so I can save more fishes. (author anonymous)

"The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding." ~ Albert Camus

By the end of the book, Tan had made her point:

Good intentions + Ignorance = Bad Outcome

And the above first quote made a lot more sense to me. I'm not sure if Tan was trying to make a religious or political statement with this book? I won't even go there. But the quote has stuck with me and I wonder if (in a much subtler way) I've ever been a part of a saving-fish-from-drowning excursion. I hope not, but regardless the book did make me think a lot more about the elements of ignorance.

Guitar Lesson #1

At my first guitar lesson I learned. . .

#1 Playing the guitar HURTS! Seriously, the tips of my left-hand fingers are not feeling so good right about now. My teacher says that eventually I will get callouses which will eliminate the pain (I think). Hmmmm. Do I want callouses? Not sure.

#2 The only other people interested in learning to play the guitar (apparently) are teenage boys (who, in their words, want to be able to play songs by Cream). Not that I signed up for this class to make friends or anything, but I did not expect to be the only adult there that was not waiting to give their teenager a ride home.

#3 The C chord is difficult. F, near impossible. G & Am were not so bad. I was wondering the whole time, are my fingers long enough? Is this even possible? Which brings me to . . .

#4 I love learning new things, in theory. In reality, new things frustrate me.

All that said, I'm glad I signed up and hopefully by the end of the 6 weeks I will look back at this post and laugh. :) If there are any guitar players out there reading this post, I can use all the advice & encouragement I can get!

Beginning Guitar!!!

I am officially signed up for Beginning Guitar I through Parks & Recreation. My first class is this Thursday night and I cannot wait! I have wanted to learn to play the guitar since college (or maybe before, I can't remember). I did take a class in college but it turned out to be a classical guitar class. While I enjoyed that experience I didn't learn chords so ultimately it didn't do me much good. Ultimately, I just want to learn enough to be able to have some individual acoustic worship time. Way excited. . .

Blankets & GOAAAAAAAAAAL!

Caelleb scored his first ever goal on Saturday. Funny thing is, he really wasn't as into this week's game. But when the ball was at his feet in front of the goal he kicked it in like the back of the net was nothing. :) I think his team lost 10-8. Nice soccer score, huh? U6 is fun (& a little frustrating) to watch.

Another cool thing that Caelleb got to participate in on Saturday before his game was Project Linus. The K-3rd graders at our church got together for a service project and made a ton of really snuggly blankets. Caelleb really enjoys doing things for others & he loved making these blankets.

I'm proud of Caelleb for so many reasons. I was delighted to see him score his first goal. But his empathy & desire to help others is what fills my heart the most!

Tooth #2

Caelleb's second tooth fell out today & this time it was not lost! We figured today would be the day. I gave Caelleb a little snack bag to keep in his pocket so the minute his tooth fell out he could put it in there. It worked! He was soooooo excited tonight to put it under his pillow. He informed Bryn and I that the tooth fairy was going to bring him "one dollar or pennies. that what he does." :) Pretty sure it will be the former.

Spontaneous Photo Shoot

My only intention was to take a picture of Tia in her cute shirt that Uncle Scott & Aunt Lori got her so that they could see her in it (since they live in Louisiana). It turned into an opportunity to get some cute pics of Caelleb & Tia. Of course, I'm not going to pass up on that. :)I absolutely LOVE watching these two interact. It seems the older they get the more they adore each other. I overheard Tia telling Caelleb he looked "very handsome" on the way to church this morning. How precious is that?

the MAC

Caelleb started a U6 season at the MAC. We debated signing him up because it is rather pricey for 8 weeks of U6 soccer (in my opinion), but everytime we drive by the MAC Caelleb asks when he gets to play there again (he played in their little kickers program a couple years ago). He had his first "game" yesterday. He's on team Japan. :) He was SOOOOO excited when I told him about it. The shirt he's wearing isn't actually his team shirt. It's just a shirt we had in his drawer, the only "kickball" shirt we could find. Once he got his official prosoccer team shirt Tia ended up wearing the one he has on in this picture. After watching his first game we are convinced it is money well spent for a number of reasons. 1. its a GREAT way for him to get out some energy in the winter time (although it didn't feel like winter weather this past weekend), 2. pretty sure we are paying for the coaching as it is not like rec ball where the coaches are just volunteer parents. They have paid coaches who truly know the game of soccer and do a great job at teaching the kids the game in a very positive, encouraging and self-confidence building way, which I SOOOOO appreciate! & 3. Caelleb loves it. He is a LOT better since his little kicker days. Bryndyn and I were actually shocked at how well he focused throughout the entire 4o minutes. We told him after his game how well he had done to which he commented, "I worked really hard." :) He did! Tia was not happy about the fact that she didn't get to be on the team. In between quarters she would go out on the indoor field and kick the ball around with me. She loved it. I may see if we can swing little kickers for her! Mostly, I think, she just really wants to be on a team.

Tia, sporting her fashionable jean jacket that uncle B & aunt Kara got her awhile back.

Homebound

Neither Bryn or I are typically stay-at-home kind of people. We are always looking to "do" something. I've gotta say though, lately I have been really enjoying just being home. I used to sort of dread snow days (other than the fact that I might get a day off of work), thinking how am I going to keep Caelleb busy, what are we going to "do" all day long, feeling sort of clausterphobic in my house. Not anymore. I LOVE being homebound now. As long as I have diet dr. pepper in the fridge & something to cook for dinner, I am good to go. I'm not sure what changed my attitude? I think partly I've stopped worrying so much about what to plan/do and started focusing more on just enjoying my family. There is something about a good snow day that is truly a family bonding experience. Whether it is playing in the snow, baking cookies, drinking REAL hot chocolate (using cocoa, sugar & milk vs. swiss miss), watching movies, playing board games, or just being silly & stir crazy, I now look forward to these quality family days!!! Here are a few pics from our recent homebound days. . .

Nice look, huh? Her shirt says, "Grandma & Santa have my list covered."

For some reason Caelleb enjoyed sitting in his "bin," sipping hot chocolate and watching myth busters, I believe. Random!Pretty sure they are watching Handy Manny. :)
Tia just being silly. . .

Mythbuster

I worked out this morning before work. Shocker, I know. This alone is a definite mythbusted, but not my current topic. When I left the house this morning at 6:20am the radio was saying it was 2 degrees with a wind chill of MINUS 10. That alone should have kept me under my nice warm flannel sheets & down comforter *pats myself on back.*

The myth is this: if you are outside with wet hair in freezing weather your hair can freeze up and break off.

I grew up in sunny Southern California. I remember hearing this myth at winter church camp up near Big Bear. I believed it, hook, line & sinker. What did I know? I thought I was freezing when it was anything less than 70 degrees outside. Then we moved to Missouri. Now snow & freezing weather are a reality, EVERY YEAR! I've left the house with wet hair plenty of times in the middle of winter (my way too thick hair takes FOREVER to dry)--no problem! I've chuckled to myself about that myth & my gullibility (It's a word. I looked it up :) & it IS in the dictionary).

But wait. Maybe I wasn't so gullible after all. This morning, upon leaving the ARC with damp hair from my shower I had to walk about 90 feet to my van. It took me all of about 30 seconds (if that). Once I was in the comfort of my warming up van I went to push a strand of hair out of my face & it was completely stiff like I had a ton of gel in it or something. I ran my fingers through my hair and yep, all of the damp strands were completely stiff. It wasn't completely frozen & did not break at my touch, but still.

In conclusion: my damp hair, after being exposed to truly freezing temperatures (about 7 degrees at the time) for about 30 seconds was stiff. This myth was definitely not busted. I think my hair would have to be exposed to freezing weather for a REALLY long time to confirm this myth and well, that would just be silly. So, I'm going to have to call this one "plausible."

What about this one: "If you lick a metal pole when the temperature is below freezing, your tongue will stick to it." Myth or fact? Someone else experiment with this one and let me know. :)



Addendum: Bryndyn just informed me that the real Mythbusters already did an episode on the licking a metal pole thing. This myth was CONFIRMED! Here is their result: "When you touch freezing cold metal with your tongue, your saliva freezes instantly, essentially gluing your tongue to the metal object. Unless you have a cup of warm water handy to unstick yourself, it's best not to test this on your own -- even if someone triple-dog-dares you -- as you could cause serious damage to your tongue." Or you can click here and take their winter myth quiz.

Temple for President

For sports fans like us, this was a great way to start off 2008!