Tag, You're It

I think I have been tagged a few times, a while ago, and have yet taken the time to do something about it. Part of it is I don't know five things to write about myself, the other part is I haven't had time to sit and actually think.
Here are some of my quirks:

1. My family is one of the most important things in my life. Being a mother and wife has changed my outlook and perspective on so many things. Not only has it taught me more about myself than I sometimes care to know, it has given me more faith and belief than I could have hoped for. I have been so blessed with a great husband and kids, wonderful parents, tons of siblings and 25 fun nieces and nephews (this list includes in-laws). It has taken me years to truly understand the importance of family.
2. I am an avid reader. I disappear for a few days when I get into a book. It doesn't matter if I love the book or not, it will be completed usually within a week, if not a couple of days. I love all different genres and love to learn things through reading.
3. I love to travel. I have been to so many places but there are so many more places I would love to go. I have found that it is harder to do international travel with kids, and I only hope someday that they can go with me. I can't say that I have one favorite place to go over another because they all offer something completely different. Here is a list of all the countries I have visited or lived in: Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Mexico, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Honduras and Belize. I think that is all of them and I have visited almost all states-maybe all but 10. I would love to do more travel to the Far East and Middle East. I also would love to visit a few countries in South America, wouldn't mind going to Australia. I hope my next trip though will be to the Ukraine and a few outlying countries (MOM/DAD that is a hint)!!!
4. I need exercise. I haven't been very good about going lately and I can give you all of the excuses in the world right now, but won't. I love the release of endorhpins exercise provides. It keeps me happy and rejuvenated. It gives me a little "me" time, and it helps me feel good about myself.
5. I have not had very many "jobs" where I get paid in my life. When I used to have to fill out my resume, I always had to make things sound a lot better than they usually were. . .like being an OFFICE JANITOR. I cleaned my dad's office-ONCE A WEEK while in high school and got paid a ridiculous amount of money. Then I worked for him as a receptionist/filer. My first job was being a newspaper carrier and of course I always had jobs around the house I could get money out of my mom for. My first real job was at Primary Children's as a Nurse. I love being a nurse and taking care of people. I have the need to nurture others and this is just one way I can do it and reap so many rewards for it. I continue to work there randomly (a couple of times a month). It gives me such insight, a break, and helps me to appreciate my kids health so much more.

Fantasy Playoffs

I made it into the playoffs. But, I am in serious need of a tight end. Not that kind of a tight end, even though I need one of those too (time to get to the gym). I keep telling my husband I am going to try and finagle some players from those who didn't make it into the playoffs. Tell them to drop the players just when I happen to be on so I can pick them up. Won't happen, but I'll let you know how I do.

New Recommendations

I had class yesterday at work, referred to as "Mandatory Class Day". All in all, it is a beneficial way to get updated on changes, learn about new equipment or technology, and reminders for people like me who work very little. My favorite thing is how the American Heart Association (AHA)makes new guidelines and recommendations about every quarter. It makes it difficult to know and remember just exactly how many times I am supposed to compress someones chest before I give them a breath. But now, for all you out there, the new guideline for a witnessed adult collapse is this (meaning you watch an adult grasp their chest and fall over) JUST DO COMPRESSIONS AND GET AN AED (automated external defibrillator) ASAP. Pound on that chest until you are blue in the face and hopefully your victim won't be. And remember that is atleast 100 compressions a minute.

A Costly Hit

It looks like the damage to B's car includes a cracked radiator, a cracked bumper and the under case that holds the insides of his car together is broken. Running over a fox with a car $2100 ($1000 ded), listening to B explain what happened, priceless.

A Run in With a Foxy Lady

B was driving home from the Jazz game on Friday night, cruising along with some buddies, when suddenly he hit something. I should say he CRUSHED something. He was going 70 mph when suddenly he saw something out of the corner of his eye. The best he could do was grip the wheel steadily (luckily, if he had try to swerve he probably would have rolled), and hit it. He said he felt the impact and then about 5seconds later felt it under his back wheels. He pulled up to the next light when his car started shaking violently. By the time he dropped his buddy off, the car was smoking, and smelt like fried animal. They all agreed that it was probably a fox because it seemed pretty little and had a bushy tail. I'll let you know what damage was done to the car when we get an estimate on it. We know it atleast cracked the front bumper grill. We are just hoping it didn't crack the radiator. Kid 2 keeps on asking me why daddy got hit by a fox. I have tried to explain it to her but can't seem to break it to her that the thing was mostly likely killed by her dad. I'll just have to let her keep on thinking the thing is like Swiper the fox from Dora and will reappear sometime later to tease her daddy.

Arguing with a 2 year old

The whole last year Kid 1 has been so excited to turn "5" that we have had a countdown for as long as I can remember. His birthday came and went, and now he keeps on asking us when he is going to turn 6. I can't believe I have another year of this. I keep on telling him to enjoy being the age he is, but he can't. I haven't decided if it is the presents one gets for a birthday, or just him wanting to be older. Which brings me to Kid 2. This little girl is such a spit fire. She has such a fun little personality, but is very independent and bull headed. I was telling her it was her birthday this week and this is the conversation we had:

S: Kid 2, it is your birthday this week, how old are you going to be?
Kid 2: Five
S: No you aren't. You are going to be 3.
Kid 2: Uh uh. I am going to be 5.
S: You are only 2 right now.
Kid 2: No, I am 4.
S: I promise, you are only 2.
Kid 2: (Screaming, and screaming and screaming) NOOOO, NOOO I am not.

She continues protesting and trying to convince me that she is an age she is not. I have no choice to ignore her and let her believe what she wants. Two bull-headed, independent people who like to be right going up against each other, doesn't always make for a pretty fight. I had to back down this time. After all, it was with a 2 year old. I dare any of you to try and argue with this one.

Inevitable Lessons of Traveling to Grandma's House

I recently traveled to my parents for a Thanks-Christmas-Giving Event. It was appropriately named so by my sister-in-law because we had Thanksgiving Dinner and then later that night had Christmas. Sounds a little bit out of sorts, but due to circumstantial timing, it had to work out this way. I have been meaning to post all week, but haven't found the time without Kid 3 clawing me while typing. There is so much to say, many of those relating to what I have learned over the years about traveling. I only hope this enlightens those who haven't been there or done that yet.

LESSON 1: "What happens at Grandma's, stays at Grandma's".
LESSON 2: While traveling in the car with a sleeping potty trained child who suddenly wakes up screaming, is inconsolable, and can't tell you what they want, immediately pull over to use the restroom. Otherwise, the immediate silence, followed by "Mommy, I just went pee pee in my pants" may be more of a mess to clean up then one cares for.
LESSON 3: It is inevitable, totally predictable, that when around 20 other grandkids, you and your kids will come down with at least one illness, if not 5.
LESSON 4: Don't expect to sleep while away. Kids will stay up later, but somehow manage to wake up at precisely 7:00 am every morning. The next week at home will be a very difficult one, as kids will now be whiny, tired, and SICK; as will you.
LESSON 5: Bad habits such as kicking, biting, pulling hair and pushing, that maybe your kids didn't fully embrace before, will now be fortified by the response of cousins, and your kids in turn have learned these methods are their only defense.
LESSON 6: When lots and lots of cousins are around for your kids to play with, your kids will somehow manage to stay out of your eyesight for an entire day, despite searching and searching for them. The beauty of this is that they are somehow more entertained, not needing you to do it for them.
LESSON 7: Kids won't eat when other kids aren't eating. Kids will eat what other kids are eating (even if that means eating straight butter or putting your finger in the cake-again and again and again-who needs utensils, right?).
LESSON 8: There is no traveling "lightly" with kids.
Lesson 9: Despite the fact that you and your siblings were all raised by the same parents, parenting styles will differ dramatically, and so will their kids "acceptable and not acceptable" behavior. This is true with ones' sense of time, ones' standards, and one's ability to clean up after themselves.

Here are some pics of our recent trip. We had a fun time. We had Thanksgiving Dinner at the church since we are now of extremely large numbers. We played some lightening basketball while there. We then went and had Christmas. Later that week,we had a birthday party for a number of the grandkids followed by Santa Claus coming to the house. My parents also had their "Farewell" talks, but don't leave for their mission until Jan. 7th. It hasn't fully hit me yet that they are leaving. I am better of not thinking about it.