My 101 Randoms...

1. When I was younger and colored a picture that I thought was ugly, I’d sign my little sister, Emily’s name on it so people would think SHE colored the monstrosity!
2. Emily didn’t like me much growing up. I still can’t put my finger on why….
3. I like to eat brownie mix with a spoon…..from the box.
4. I went to a taping of Price Is Right
5. Me and 6 other friends got saved by Search and Rescue in Moab. Haven’t been back since (but really am planning on it soon!)
6. The Search & Rescue Spring Break was one of my favorite memories from high school.
7. While channel surfing, I cannot pass up America’s Funniest Videos or Run’s House. Sucked in like a moth to a flame.
8. Currently have Duct Tape keeping a slit closed on our Down Comforter. Are we white trash or what?!?
9. Just spent my highest amount at Costco in one stop—over $400—due in part to replacing our Down Comforter. Not so white trash anymore. But now broke like white trash.
10. I LOVE Costco (Thanks Dad!)
11. Can’t resist Girls Scout Thin Mint cookies. I am putty in their hands if they have an unlimited supply…
12. Think about and miss my fun, quirky mother-in-law almost every day.
13. Grateful for 2 “step”mother-in-laws who have completely embraced us as family in every sense of the word. The circle just continues to enlarge.
14. Would feel LOST in this world without my sisters (& think Emily has forgiven me by now for the mean things I did to her when we were younger)
15. Consider all my sister-in-laws as sisters
16. Have the kindest brothers and bro-in-laws
17. Coolest extended families on both sides...EVER!
18. If I had my choice of any parents in the world, I would hand pick the ones I was given.
19. Love, love, LOVE being a mom in every sense of the word.
20. Am grateful that I was able to choose to stay at home with the kids.
21. Married to my greatest friend, and turned out that he’s an even better dad than I could have ever even imagined when I chose him at the ripe old age of 21.
22. My son calls Casey his “Best Pal Forever”
23. Though my husband worries about Ty’s toughness (& lack of it), I secretly love that he is sensitive and kind. Although I also worry when he declares that his “Fifth favorite color is pink!” and that he doesn’t mind playing Polly Pockets with his sisters. Growing up in a “girl trapped” family will only make him a better husband, right?!?!
24. I love fixing hair. And will have plenty of it to do when Bree & Tink’s hair decides to crop up and now that Ash actually let’s me do it!
25. I am head over heals for my kids (and at some times want to pull the hairs out of my fore mentioned head…)
26. I am a fiercely loyal friend
27. I don’t let many people “In”. I have lots of fun friendships, but guard my nearest and dearest with reverence.
28. I am not competitive. I enjoy winning and doing my best—but it has never affected my mood. When it gets to that point, I’m not having fun anymore and I’d rather just move along to something else.
29. If I’m asked to do something, I’ll get it done. I beat myself up when I don’t…
30. I would put tennis balls in my Under-roos Daisy Duke undershirt to be more authentic.
31. Tried to show off to my first grade crush that I could do a flip off the diving board. It being the first swim of the season and all, didn’t realize that after the magnificent trick, I’d forgotten how to swim. My mom had to jump in and save me. Didn’t seem to impress him…
32. The first person I “went” with was Jake Carlson in 7th grade. This consisted of long, long notes written by him of funny cartoons and his picture to hang in my locker. I broke up with him a week later after having my first bishop’s interview since I’d just turned 12 and felt SOOO guilty!
33. Turned myself in after being caught red-handed skipping school all day with my boyfriend and two other friends junior year. Another guilty conscience moment. Was grounded from the car, but it could have been worse. My boyfriend was grounded for an entire month.
34. Dated this same boyfriend for years. In hind sight, we were mostly just best friends that happened to like kissing each other.
35. One of my most embarrassing moments involved a date, a silent toot, and the guy having to roll down the window in the car…in the frigid cold of January.
36. Kissed a guy in college on the first date.
37. Kissed Casey before we ever went on a first date. I totally was thinking “Well, we just ruined a perfectly good friendship!” Thankfully, we kept “hanging out”, right Case!?!?
38. When I was a teenager, I thought book club sounded like the most B.O.R.I.N.G. thing on the planet. And now I'm in one.
39. Book club is so not boring and lots of fun to get together with ladies in my neighborhood in all walks of life.
40. I love parenting books, relationship books, do-it-yourself, and basically all self-improvement books.
41. I cannot remember life without the internet.
42. I am giddy (yes, giddy) when I get a personal letter in the mail, a package, an e-mail and even comments on the blog. Ridiculously giddy...
43. I am HORRIBLE at keeping in touch with old friends, though they still mean just as much to me.
44. I am decent with keeping in touch with emails, though.
45. Not a phone person.
46. But I do talk to a family member ever day.
47. Half of my cell phone minutes are with my sister, Liz.
48. Casey calls me from work every day. Just to say hi and see how we're doing. I LOVE it.
49. I also get an "I'm heading home" call every day. This is when the kids & I hit it in high gear and pick up the house...
50. If Casey forgets to call, he gets what he gets when he walks in.
51. Casey is clean and believes "A place for everything and everything in it's place"
52. I am a reformed slob. People are much more important to me than things.
53. Most of our "discussions" when we were newlys was about the messy/clean combo.
54. My first foray into dispensible income will be some kind of regular cleaning service;)
55. I really enjoy mowing the lawn.
56. Don't really love folding laundry.
57. I have a hard time leaving my kids with babysitters. What's wrong with me?!?
58. Did I mention how great of a dad Casey is?!? Oh, I did? Well, can't toot that horn enough!
59. Am an RN, but haven't practiced for 7 years.
60. Am scared to jump back in someday after such a long leave.
61. Am seriously considering BYU's general distance learning degree to get my ding-dong Bachelor's. (Have an associate's degree)
62. Lived in (& loved) Jerusalem for 6 months.
63. Think Lake Powell is a pretty perfect vacation spot.
64. Hard to beat Disney as well for family vacations.
65. Lived in Nigeria for 6 weeks w/ Casey while serving a medical & micro-lending mission. Best part about it was working side by side with Case.
66. Am often homesick for Charlottesville, Virginia and the friends who became family.
67. Grew up in a close-knit community in the middle of Salt Lake Valley--Murray--and loved it.
68. Hope to recreate just as ideal a childhood for my own children as I had.
69. Love wakeboarding, hiking, snow skiing, tennis and soccer.
70. Can still do a flip throw with the soccer ball.
71. Enjoy crafts, scrapbooking, sewing, baking, playing the piano.
72. Had lasik surgery to fix my rather horrible eye sight
73. Decide every year that I’m going to do a triathlon, but seem to be pregnant or nursing every year! Next spring!!!
74. I love being outdoors—fills my soul.
75. Wish I was more like my grandmother in so many ways. She was pretty remarkable…
76. Love card games
77. Love the IDEA of camping, but when we’re actually doing it with four small children, wonder what in the world I was thinking!
78. Love making forts with the kids.
79. Have participated in Race for the Cure every year for the past 10 years (missed last year though because I was due in 2 weeks).
80. Get stir crazy easily. Need to go on mini-vacations OFTEN!
81. We are BYU fans in this house.
82. Also rootin’ for the Jazz…
83. Get sad in January when the Christmas cards aren’t flooding the mailbox.
84. Get sad in January when the credit card bill drains the bank account
85. Capital "L" Love our neighborhood and the people living in it. We have felt many times over that we are exactly where we are supposed to be.
86. Went 10 years without eating candy
87. Became addicted to fruit snacks at this time in my life and still probably eat more than my kids do!
88. The infamous “7 year itch” and intern year collided like the perfect storm in our marriage and we survived it. And, of course, we’re stronger for it!!!
89. Feel like I got the husband that I married back the day residency ended. Rough road and I missed him;)
90. Still finding more and more things to fall in love with and am grateful for a dear, supportive husband.
91. Love salmon.
92. Miss the cabin in Park City.
93. Love the cabin in Midway, condo in St. George and visiting Star Valley
94. Am an early riser. I’m more productive in the morning.
95. If I have a project, then I’ll pull late nights because I’m more creative at night.
96. Shh…don’t tell the bishop, but I love being Activity Days leader. I’m afraid it will be taken away from me if word gets out about this little secret.
97. Couldn’t survive without girls nights.
98. Love snuggling with each of my kids.
99. Love snuggling with Casey.
100. When Casey's grandma passed away, she had requested that all the granddaughters sing a song titled, "Try to be more gentle with yourself" as lingering advice. I think of this, and her, when I'm being too hard on myself and the lovely, sweet message. Something everyone can incorporate more into their lives.
101. Love keeping up with others through blogs!