20 things I'll NEVER do...

So - I got this idea from a friend and it was SO fun to read hers - that I thought I'd try it out too! :)

SOOOOO......Here we go!

1) I'll NEVER get a belly button ring! It hurt too bad the first time, and thanks to my 2 c-sections...my belly isn't seen any longer!

2) I'll never wear high heels or be into shoes. I've tried. I don't get it - and I don't see why people are so into them? It's shoes! You walk on them...they get dirty - and who wants to be uncomfortable ALL DAY LONG?

3) I'll never ride on a moped or motorcycle. While it was one of the GREATEST days of my ENTIRE life....despite our accident....I will NEVER get on the back of another motorcycle OR moped!

4) I'll never pay a construction worker the full amount before the work is completed. Yeah - long story...don't go there.

5) I'll never own another mini-van. Sure, it's convenient and sooo nice for traveling...but it's just not me. I felt like a different person behind the wheel. I'll stick to SUV's....I've had one since I was 20...so it's just my thing. TOTALLY don't judge YOU if YOU have a mini-van....you probably hate SUV's and the gas milage is WAY better....just still not a fan.

6) I'll never work at a sales call center. Yes - the money is HARD to beat....but I would DIE if I had to call and ask people to switch from ATT&T to MCI again! I'm getting twitches just thinking about it! I'd rather work in a nursing home wiping bottoms. (ok - maybe that is extreme)

7) I'll never be a Lakers fan. Yes - I'm married to a die-hard one....but there's just SOMETHING about it that I don't like. It's not that I truly care...I really don't....but you will NEVER catch me in Yellow and Purple....it just doesn't go together!

8) I'll never be able to eat anything I want. I hate you if you can. I always have and always will have to count calories and worry about exercising and watching every morsel that comes close to my mouth! In fact - I probably just gained a pound talking about this!

9) I'll never own a bird. YUCK YUCK YUCK! I hate birds. I think they are gross and they are annoying when I try to sleep! They poop while in motion and it's runny. GROSS! I don't understand how they make pets...but to each his own!

10) I'll never have a green thumb. I'm sorry - I just can't seem to get a grasp on loving yard work or keeping things alive! I LOVE how it looks when people have beautiful landscaping and flowers everywhere - but I don't get it! Why would I choose to go out in the heat and pull weeds!? NOT FUN!

11) Play golf. zzzzzzz

12) Watch golf. even bigger zzzzzzzz

13) Relax in the wintertime. I am DEATHLY afraid of the stomach virus....seriously. As in, I lose sleep over it, watch everything I eat all winter (for fear of it coming up again) and clean the trash cans and toilets weekly!

14) Be good at drums. Yeah - no good at all. I even tried to sound check them one time at Crosspoint and failed at that.

15) Wear panty hose. I was SCARRED for life with panty hose in college. I hate them....I can NEVER get them on without running them and I feel claustrophobic when they are on.

16) Go camping. The thought of sleeping outside without air conditioning in a tent and waking up all humid and eaten by bugs grosses me out. Also - whatever would I do without my straightening iron and a good make-up mirror! Perhaps in a nice air-conditioned camper....but who REALLY calls that camping?

17) Cross stitch. I mean...really!?

18) Climb. Everest, telephone pole, tree....forget it. I hate heights and unless my life was in danger - you won't catch me climbing anything.

19) I'll never be a good salsa dancer. My hips do LIE!

20) I'll never stop rubbing my eyebrows! I did it while sucking my thumb as a child - and I STILL do it whenever I'm tired. My mom told me that I'd have to quit when I grew up and got married - but Jon is ok with it - so we're good!

MOVING!

Friends and family....

This blog has fallen by the wayside!

It's hard to keep up with 2 blogs and a twitter and a facebook -

and still find time to do my job and raise 2 kids! :)

Please feel free to follow me over to my "staff" blog at the following

address:

http://xpressway521.blogspot.com/

Potty Training Blues

I have a couple of stories about Kennedy and potty training! :)

I can laugh now - now that she is accident free and doing AWESOME with no diapers! WHOO HOO!

1) The first story takes place at Dillons Grocery Store in KS. We were in a hurry, trying to get lunch meat for our sub sandwiches. I had a basket full of groceries when Kennedy told me she had to go potty! YAY! we dropped the groceries with mom, and ran for the bathroom! :) No accident! Back in the aisle, finishing up our shopping, I turned around to see Kennedy literally SQUATTING! WHAT? I dropped the groceries, scooped her up and took off running! The whole time I'm saying..."Hold it!", "No accidents!", and then "Squeeze your cheeks together!"....I looked at her face (stricken with fear as I'm running her and shouting orders), and both hands were up on her face squeezing as hard as she could! HAHAHA! Apparently I hadn't shared with her that her behind is also called "cheeks".... :)

2) The second story took place while my sister and I were getting pedicures. We decided to take Kennedy with us for a "girls trip". She got her fingernails painted purple and was having a great time. The manicurist was SO nice and told her that she could sit on my lap, take her shoes off, and stick her toes in the water. How FUN! :)

She was so excited. She took off her shoes and stuck her toes in. It wasn't 2 minutes later when I suddenly felt very warm all over. I looked down to discover that Kennedy had peed ALL OVER me! :) Fun times.

Thankful to report - Kennedy has been accident free since Tuesday! She's doing great!!! :)

Memories

One of my favorite memories of Christmas as a child was meeting up with our church and caroling around Haven. My favorite stop was the house of Mary Bridgeman who always made us popcorn balls. YUMM! I love this time of year...the carols, the smell in the air, the decorations in and out of stores.

We are working hard on starting Christmas traditions with Jaxen and Kennedy. Teaching them first that it's Jesus' Birthday...and because God gave His son Jesus as a gift for US on this day part of the celebration is that we give gifts to them! Kennedy TOTALLY gets it! We are having a party for Jesus complete with hats and cake! :) She might be a TAD bit confused when He doesn't "show up" in the flesh - but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

We're also teaching her about Santa...and what fun that can be....doing Gingerbread houses, looking at Christmas lights, opening Christmas Eve PJ's and leaving Reindeer dust on the sidewalk so that Santa doesn't miss our house! :)

Love my kids, love my family....

Random Ramblings mostly for Grandma! :)

1) Jaxen is walking everywhere...into everything...and thinks he gets to do whatever Kennedy does.  He has a lot to learn.  HA!

2) Sometimes I see my brother Wes in Jaxen.  It's weird...I don't know whether to hug him - or get a curling iron out.  (long story)

3) For my 30th birthday I received 3 little prickly hairs on my chinny chin chin...WHAT THE HECK?  

4) Kennedy held up my bra the other day and said "Mommy wearing boobies today?"...hmmm let me think on that one.

5) My job is going great.  I am learning to lead...it's hard.  It would be EASY if I didn't have people to deal with...oh wait....that's the point! :)

6) Last Sunday we had about 60 kids in Xpressway (Our children's program)....we were missing approx. 18 regulars.  YIKES!  YAAAAY!

7) Working out 6 days a week...feels like another PT job.  I got a trainer - and she likes to see me suffer.  

8) We leave for the beach in just over a week....I can't wait to get away and relax.  

9) God has given me 2 new friends who are AMAZING!!!  It's like He knew EXACTLY what I needed - and brought these 2 women to my life!  Love my "old" friends too!

10) Jaxen is obsessed with pulling Kennedy's hair.  

11) We are BLESSED with a WONDERFUL school for the kids to go to.  They LOVE it - and the teachers are awesome.  I'm excited to see what this year will bring.  They go 2 days a week.  If we stay here - our kids will probably continue their education there through high school.  

12) Not planning on staying here Grandma.  :)  Some exciting things in the works!!!

13) Headed to Vail, CO in 3 weeks with one of my best friends and my 2 sisters!!!!  Can't wait!

14) I no longer drink soda of any kind.  Diet or Regular.  Only Water and Green Tea.  mmm....I feel sooo much better!

15) Jon is and forever will be the love of my life.  He is an amazing creation and gift to me.  (You already know this...but it was worth saying again)  

Step by Step

Well - Jaxen has taken off.  I TOTALLY called it (that it would happen the week after we left Kansas) because that's how these things go! :)

He is toddling around the little play places and from room to room!  Lots of bumps and bruises with all the falls - but he is up to about 15 steps at a time.  Kennedy thinks it's hilarious! She is IN FOR IT when he starts running around.  :)

We are officially home from a great vacation and into our normal routine.  Didn't take too long! We had a great time being away.  It was exactly what we needed...minus the 21 hour drive each way! We are so grateful to everyone who took time out to come and see us - or hang out.  We know everyone is busy and that a lot of trips to Haven - and so forth were made.  THANK YOU for making our trip so WONDERFUL!  

Looking forward...

Next week we are heading to Kansas to see my family.  I can't tell you how excited I am to go home! :)  I always look forward to this time.  It gives me a calming sense of peace as I see the water tower and make the turn onto Haven/Buhler Road.  It's like suddenly - everything is "OK"....life is not hard anymore.  

It's always a hard time for Jon and I.  I go through this incredible roller coaster of emotions.  I always start dreaming of moving back and living near my family.  I start searching for IT jobs - and brainstorming how we can make it work...making contacts with several people who can "hook us up" with work.  Even though I know this is where God has us now - it is still so hard to live far away.  I dream of going on walks with my mom, shopping with my sister, coffee with my brother, and lunches with my grandparents.  I have 2 of the closest friends ever that still live there - and still to this day - no one can make me laugh like those 2! :)  

It has nothing to do with hating where we are at - we love it here....but it has everything to do with the overwhelming sense of sadness as we pull away, knowing we won't see them for many months.  I always tell myself not to cry...and then the lump comes.  It's so big I can't swallow - and tears pour like rain.  I'm already trying to prepare myself for this bitter sweet visit.  (I'm sure Jon is too!)  :)  

Can't wait to see you guys!