7 Things

So I got tagged by my "Blogging Friend" Jenny and I'm supposed to share 7 random things about myself. I can't promise this is going to be ultra exciting but...here goes...

1) I'm domestically challenged. I just don't have time! I don't know how the other moms do it out there. I work 7 am - 5:30 pm. I don't get home until 6 pm at the earliest. WHO has time to cook and clean? We have a housekeeper to take care of (most of) the cleaning.... and most nights Jenna is lucky if I throw something together or make pasta or something. It's just not happening! Most nights we all end up doing our own thing food wise. We usually sit down together...so we are making progress...but Jenna's usually the only one eating a well balanced meal with veggies and fruit and milk included. Jim and I usually end up noshing on whatever is available and we are both bad about getting enough veggies. We keep telling ourselves we really need to make more of an effort.

2) I am a "counter". It's my little obsessive compulsive trait. I do it when I am straightening up the house usually. I'll say to myself, I need to put 50 things away and then I'm going to bed. I think it subconsiously gets me to do things faster because it's like I'm racing for the finish line. Gives me a quick sense of accomplishment. I know...kinda sad right?

3) I'm a super picky eater. Jim makes fun of me constantly and has this list he started when we were dating of all the things I won't eat. I'm bad about eating my veggies and I really only like raw carrots, corn and salads. I won't eat fish (except for some fried shellfish). I can't even stand the smell of fish. Makes me gag. EW EW EW. I won't eat mushrooms (hello...it's fungus!!)...I don't like cream cheese, cheesecake, or beans of any kind. I'm super picky about chicken. I don't like large pieces of meat. I don't like lettuce in my sandwiches or on my burger. You get the idea.

4) I love my lists. I make lists for everything. At work...at home....in the car. If it needs to get done or be remembered...it needs to be on a list. The best part about a list is crossing things off as you complete them. Sometimes I even put things on my list that I've already completed....just so I can cross them off. Gives me a sense of accomplishment and a rush to keep getting stuff crossed off. Hmmm....anyone else sensing another OCD trait here??

5) I had major surgery when I was 13 years old. I had scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and it was so severe that I had to have two 14-inch metal rods inserted into my back and wires hooked into my spinal cord to straighten things out. Then they fused my spine at the top and bottom to hold it all in place. It was 7 hours of major surgery and they even had to wake me in the middle of it to make sure I could wiggle my fingers and toes (they were worried about paralyzing me).
Afterwards I had to learn how to walk again since my whole center of balance was thrown off. Now I tell people I have a back of steel...and I NEVER slouch. I can't!

6) I love photography. I have for a long time. I dated a guy in college who was a photographer and I think the passion just kind of stuck with me. He took boring pictures of events like rock concerts and still photography like bridges and flowers. Ick. I love pictures of PEOPLE. I like to capture a moment in time and give a glimpse into a persons life and personality at that moment. I especially like taking pictures of kids and my daughter is my absolute favorite subject.

7) People in my family stay married for life. There has only been one divorce in my immediate family (my uncle) and that happened after about 15 years of marriage. He is now remarried and he and his wife have been married for around 7 years now and they'll probably be together forever. My grandparents have/had all been married for more than 60 years. My parents have been married for almost 40 years. Aunts, uncles, cousins...everyone....ALL married. This also includes 99.9% of my distant 2nd cousins and cousins-in-laws half removed....you get the idea. All still married. I think it's something to be very proud of and I'll take it as a good sign for the future of my marriage! We are coming up on 5 years ourselves!!

Ok...so now I'm supposed to tag some people...so that they can share 7 random things about themselves!!

I'll tag:

1) Kim - my sister in law, good friend and mother to my ADORABLE niece Madison!
2) My husband - since he thinks he's all cool now with his blog that he's only written in ONE TIME!! Yes...I am calling you out Jim!
3) Zhohn - a fellow blogging buddy who is a whiz with photo editing (see blog below)
4) Mo - another blogging buddy. She's got a hilarious personality and the cutest little baby Ellie!!
5) Casey - yet another blogging buddy. Anyone noticing a trend here? I'm meeting some fun and interesting people with this hobby!!

I assure you all I do have real life in person friends too but none of them have caught on to this blogging thing yet!!

Have fun guys!!

Had to add this

I just got this in my email box from a fellow blogging friend and I had to post it.

Thanks Zhohn!! I love it!!!

Blog Slacker

I admit it...I've been a big-time "blog slacker" lately. Things are busy busy at work and busy busy at home too. Funny how things just never seem to slow down. NEVER a dull moment! I guess I really wouldn't know what to do with myself if it did!

Jenna took her first ballet class last week and L-O-V-E-D it!! She looked so cute in her little outfit. She's the only one in pink (we hadn't had a chance to buy the required blue leotard uniform yet so she was the only one in pink with a little tutu!) Makes it easier to pick her out in the pictures at least.

The video's a little strange. We have to stand outside the room and watch through the window so you can't really hear the music. You get the idea though. Jenna was very fond of looking at herself in the mirror and smiling and waving at us. She did pay attention for most of the class though. I was quite the proud mom!

Her next class is this Friday and, thankfully, I got on the ball and got her the blue uniform (B-O-R-I-N-G!!) so she'll be "one of the group" for her next class. Since when do I want her to just fit in and go with the flow anyway?? That's just not her style!! hee hee!!

Last weekend was also her first KARATE class!! She and her friend Emma signed up and they looked so cute out there in their little t-shirts, diligently paying attention to everything that their Sensei James said to them. HA HA....yeah, right!! Have to keep reminding myself that SHE IS T-W-O!! She spent 5% of her time listening to the instructor, "Sensei James", and the other 95% of her time goofing off, running around, coming over to give us kisses and hugs, and whining. At least she wasn't the only one!

She's the one in the pink pants with the big white bow in her hair! Hey the girls gotta be stylish and girly!! She would have worn a dress if we had let her! Her friend Emma is in the brown pants. All of the shirts say "Itty" on the back. They were the "Itty's" (the littlest ones) and in a few years they can be "Bitty's" (if we make it that far). It was just SO CUTE!



All I know is that, between Ballet on Fridays and Karate on Saturdays....this is one WELL ROUNDED toddler!!

Fun with Photos!

Jenna and I spent some time at the park today and ended up taking some cute pictures. Tonight I've been playing around with them a little bit...doing some editing and thought I'd post them on here!! I think they turned out pretty cute!!

You can't tell from these pictures...but she was being rather difficult and did NOT want to pose for pictures. I guess they didn't turn out half bad...given the circumstances!!

Her VERY FIRST Ballet Class is tomorrow...so I will have more to share soon! I'm having fun with the editing!

Random Cuteness

Just thought I would post some random stuff tonight

Jenna on the flying trapeeze (her swingset):

Jenna and her Autie Elaine (who stopped by for a visit tonight!!):

In her new tent:

"Painting" her house:



Jenna and Oscar:

Watching her very first movie....in a theater ("Horton Hears a Who"). She sat still and paid attention....for the first 10 minutes or so. The rest of the movie was a nightmare! I don't plan on doing that again anytime soon!!

Cousin Madison brushing her teeth (I LOVE this picture and plan to keep it to show Madison when she is older):

Jenna swinging:

Madison swinging:

Jenna making lemonade at "Sun Kids" (at the mall) this past Saturday:

Playing with her friend Emma at the mall:

Check out those "Pageant Panties"!!

Looking cute in the yard:

It's a charmed life!

Fast Like Rose

So I alluded to this in my "Wiggles" post a few days ago but I thought I would elaborate a little tonight.....for laughs if nothing else. And because it's kind of a unique story and I want to be sure to share it with Jenna when she is older.

So, on Thursday last week I left work early, raced home, threw our luggage in the car, raced to the bank, raced to my parents house, picked up Jenna and we were off. It was approximately 2:00pm and the Wiggles concert was at 6:30 in Sacramento (approx. 3 hours away). We were going with my sister-in-law Kim and Jenna's cousin Madison. We were excited!!

So we get on Herndon and head for the Freeway. I'm obeying the traffic laws, my hands are at 10 and 2, I'm traveling at a safe and legal speed. I've got my navigation system set. We should get to the concert with time to spare. We could take. our. time. We were less than 5 minutes from my mom and dad's house when we get to this hill/overpass that goes up over the railroad tracks. As we approach the hill, Jenna gets excited and squeals..."Fast Mommy...go Fast!! Go fast like ROSE!! (Rose is our friend who Jenna is convinced drives fast) Hands up Mommy...HANDS UP!!" So.....I do what any good mother would do. I GUN IT!!

We race over the hill at 72 miles an hour with our hands flailing wildly in the air. We are throwing caution to the wind. We are having the time of our lives. There are wonderful carefree squeals of delight coming from the back seat. I'm reveling in my daughters joy. Life is so wonderful. I am thrilled. I am happy. I am woman. I am flying. I am........getting pulled over.

Yep, at the bottom of the overpass I spot a motorcycle cop with his radar gun pointed right at me. I can almost envision the bewilderment on his face as he spies this crazed woman in her mommy-mobile flying over the overpass at 70+ mph with her arms flaling. As I pass him I watch him put his radar gun away and pull out behind me....his lights flashing. I pull over. A little voice from the backseat says "Is this Madison's house?"

"No." I reply quietly, "No Jenna, this is not Madison's house."

It takes all my strength not to bang my head repeatedly into the steering wheel as the officer approaches my window. I feel like an utter moron.

The officer informes me that I was going over 70 mph, checks my license and registration, and gives me a ticket. I thank him. I really have no good excuse.

"What happened Mommy?" comes an inquisistive little voice behind me?

At this point....I figure the best thing to do is turn this into a learning situation for my impressionable toddler.

"Mommy was going too fast Jenna." I explain. "Mommy got in trouble. Mommy needs to sloooooww down..........."

"Mommy is surprised the nice officer didn't ask for a drug test."