The perks of blogging

Last month I got four tickets to the advanced screening of Rise of the Guardians in 3D. 

We took the girls up to a mall in the outskirts of Milwaukee that I wish we had discovered earlier. We had such a great time, visited Santa, and loved the great theater. 

The movie was fun and even Maddy sat through the whole thing. She only started getting restless when there was about ten minutes left.

Celebrating Family

Have you heard of Celebrate Family 2011? 

Last year I followed one of my favorite blogs as she celebrated the family. This year she is doing it again along with two of my other favorite blogs and one that is new to me. Today is the first day. You can follow along all month. It is going to be fantastic!

http://beinglds.blogspot.com/

http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/

http://www.theredheadedhostess.com

http://rovinroberts.blogspot.com/

Final Day of the Blog Challenge

In this past month what have you learned?

I have learned that even though I blog a lot, it is really hard to have to blog every day. There were a few days when I didn't get the time and I would quickly do the post the next morning. Then there were times like this one. I should have written this one yesterday but didn't get around to it so I am doing it today.

I have learned that I walk around thinking I am so different from everyone else and I think now I have more in common with those around me than I thought I did. That's nice.

I have learned that I like having a subject to blog about other than just our outings. Although it was hard to blog every single day, I thought it was really fun to dig in to a few of the subjects and open up.

I am glad I did this challenge and glad that a few of you are doing it too!

Blog challenge day 29

The last ten movies you've watched:

These movies span all the way back to the end of last year because most of the time when I have been sitting down to watch something it has been netflix tv shows. I have been watching Greek, Grey's Anatomy, and Lark Rise to Candleford.
But I have seen a few movies too so here we go....

1. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

I have loved the Indiana Jones movies for as long as I can remember. This one was no exception for me. I really like Shia in the Transformers movies and I think he and Harrison Ford played off of each other really well. This one barely made the list because Doug and I watched it last night. We had seen it before but he bought it on blue ray the other day so we had to watch it on the new tv!

I know people who didn't like this one but I really do like it. 

2. P.S. I Love You

I love, love, love this movie. I think it is so romantic. I own it and have watched it many times but was in the mood for it again last week because of Jeffrey Dean Morgan playing Denny on Grey's Anatomy.

I was so sad to see his character go on Greys. I don't know what that guy is like in real life but he just looks like a happy guy.

3. Salt

I really liked this movie too. I thought it was going to be completely predictable... and it was to a point but there were some things I didn't see coming and some things that I guessed and then thought I was wrong. Also I am a die hard Angelia fan so no haters here please! 

I think she is just cool and one of those celebrities that I would love to meet. 

4. Dinner for Schmucks

This movie was dumb. But this movie was hilarious. You really have to like the humor of this group of people. There is a part where Steve Carell is pretending to be a penguin that literally had me laughing so hard I was crying.  If you see it you'll know what I mean. 

5. The Kids are all right

Yeah, I hated this movie. I ended up fast forwarding a few times. I watched it in my yearly quest to watch the best picture nominated films before the Oscars and I have no idea why this one was up for one. And that is not because of the gay couple storyline.. it has everything to do with the fact that they bring in someone that you are supposed to like (I think) and then there is an affair and the person brought in is made out to be the bad guy while the married person can just apologize and everything is back to normal. Blah. I really didn't find the adult characters likable and there was so much garbage in it.. hence the fast forwarding.

6. The Social Network

I thought this movie was really interesting. The opening scene was just painful to watch. I had no idea that this guy was such a jerk but he really was. (Is?) It is so interesting how something like this can grow so fast and then turn into an international phenomenon that has saved people. I mean, I know there is a lot of bad stuff that comes out of facebook too but it has been a huge help in many of the national disasters and revolutions over the past few years. Doug and I were watching 60 minutes a few weeks ago and they were showing the revolution that was going on in Tunisia and how much facebook helped them.  Very interesting.

7. Inception

Great movie. It's not one I want to watch over and over again but it was very interesting. I thought the cast was great. The effects were amazing. 

8. Easy A

This movie has mixed reviews from me. I liked it. I thought it was really funny. But it's not for all audiences so don't see it based on my liking it. I thought the main character and her parents were hilarious.

9. Ramona and Beezus

I really really loved this movie. It is a great family film. If you enjoyed the Ramona books as a kid than I'm pretty sure you will love it too. The little girl did such a good job playing Ramona. It was heartwarming and funny. I will buy this one.

10. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

I loved the concept on this one. I think Michael Cera is hilarious and so many of the characters in this show were really funny. The comic feel to it was great. It seemed original. That said,  I was really into it for the first half and then it started to wear off a little. I still liked it a lot though. His hat was hilarious.

Blog Challenge Day 28

favorite article of clothing:

I have this white blouse that I love. Doug bought it for me when we were dating from Charlotte Russe.

It had a cute design on the front and ties in the back. It was comfortable and casual but I always felt a little bit more dressed up when I had it on. Of course this picture of me wearing it is pre children and it does not fit me right now but I keep it in my closet until the day I can put it on again.
As of right now I have a gray and purple argyle sweater/shirt combo that I like for the same reasons. It is comfortable but makes me feel a little more dressed up.
And I do love me some pajamas and running pants. When I'm at home with nowhere to go you will most likely find me in some kind of sweats or yoga pants and a tee shirt.

Blog Challenge day 27

A picture of you this time last year. How have you changed?

 I am going to change this question a little because I couldn't find a single picture of myself a year ago. I mean, I hate having my picture taken right now and a year ago I was only a few months out from having Madeline so I'm sure it was even worse then. So, instead I am posting this picture of Abigail and Madeline from almost exactly a year ago.
I will also mention things that have changed with them as well.
Almost exactly a year ago we took Abigail to the eye doctor for that first appointment where we were told that she indeed had an eye issue. We went straight to Walmart and blew $100 on the bi-focals that we were told she needed. I was walking past the Walmart eye center the other day and got a sick feeling thinking about spending all that money on something we didn't end up needing.
Now, a year later, after having heard about vision therapy and visiting the wonderful Behavioral Vision Center in Crystal Lake, her eye hardly ever crosses anymore. Occasionally when she is tired or sick we will see it but I don't actually remember the last time I did see it cross. We went for her check up two weeks ago and she has improved so much that we don't have to go back for six months. We will continue doing eye therapy but it's about  20-30 minutes a day now rather than the hour+ it was at the beginning.
It really has been such a learning experience for all of us to experience how, as parents, we didn't feel content with her diagnosis of having to patch, have bi-focals, and possibly surgery and here a year later the issue is almost non-existent. The idea that we may have subjected her to eye surgery when she didn't need it makes me so grateful that we knew it wasn't right and followed that prompting.
Maddy has, of course, changed the most in the past year. She now has a head full of crazy hair instead of being bald the way she was a year ago.
She is completely independent and wants to be on the go at all times. When Abi was this age I could stick her in the travel crib with some toys and get the house clean. Maddy will yell and cry the whole time if I try to do that. It is so hard to get anything done anymore but she is also so much fun.
She is trying to talk all the time. She has started saying Okey Dokey, tickle tickle tickle, Uh-Oh, yeah, no, and making chicken noises among other things.
I don't really know how I've changed in the past year. I am constantly changing. I guess it was about a year ago that I dyed my hair brown and I have an appointment for next week to go back to blonde! That will be a fun change.

Blog Challenge day 26

something/someone you miss:

I have been feeling really nostalgic lately. Maybe it has been this post challenge and the fact that it had me pulling out old yearbooks and scrapbooks and the discussions Doug and I have had as we looked through them or maybe it's the winter doldrums. I'm not sure.

But when I set down to answer this I had many things come to mind and one of them is a few old friends of mine. Doug and I talked about it and about how there are some people that you would love to see again and just see how they are but there are a few friends that were so special and so important to you that you think about them often. I miss a few friends but there were two guys in particular that I miss.They were both such a big part of my life that I can't help but miss the friendship I shared with them.
Doug and I were talking about it because he knew one of them and knew of the other one but didn't know either really well. I asked if he thought it was weird. He said he didn't. But as we talked I thought even if I did see these guys again it probably wouldn't be the same. So, I am sure I won't ever have those friendships back but I do miss them.

I also think about my family. Once upon a time I had that family that was always together. We were together on every holiday, were having parties and get togethers all the time. We gathered at my parents house for New Years Eve sleep overs and my friends would want to come to those instead of teenager parties because my family was so fun. But over the years there has been a shift. We had a major family issue that led to us all being estranged for a while and then slowly one by one we came back together but I don't think it has ever been the same. As children grew up, families started doing their own things and also hanging out with their respective friends and in laws more. Some of us changed so much that the relationships just aren't the same anymore. And sometimes I think I'm the only one that longs for those  days when we used to gather around at my parents house for Christmas Eve AND Christmas day. For those days when we were all best friends. I miss it terribly. I joke that I think family and gatherings are the most important to me of anyone else in the family and I'm the only one that lives away... but I think it's true.

I also miss each family member individually since we don't see each other often but My Mom is coming out in a few weeks!!!!! Yay!

I miss the carefree days of my teenage and mid twenty years when I had no real responsibility. But, I would never give up my responsibilities for that again because as hard as it is to be a mom I love those girls more than anything.

I miss jumping in my car and driving up the canyon. I used to spend so much time in the mountains. I went camping all the time. I would sometimes drive up and just park and sit by a river and read or write. I love hiking. I love the feeling of the early morning sunshine coming over the mountain peaks when you are cold after a rough night of camp sleep. I have never been camping with Doug and the girls. It's not the same out here. I miss using the mountains to always know where I was at.

I miss lots of things.

Blog challenge day 25

What I would find in my purse:

Wallet which contains a little cash, debit cards, a library card, my drivers license,and  a couple of random store membership cards.
A check book.
My cell phone although it is not guarenteed to be charged and ready for usage.
A couple of diapers and a package of wipes
Some kid snacks.
Hand sanitizer.
Kleenex.
Red lipstick. My current favorite.
Change jingling around.

Blog Challenge Day 24

Write a letter to your parents:

Dear Dad,

First off, thanks for being my dad. We've had our tough times in the family but you really are an inspiration of what a person can go through and deal with and come out the other side.
I am proud to call you dad.
Thank you for your service to our country. I know you loved being in the Navy but I'm sure it wasn't always easy. You worked so hard and it was so fun to watch you climb the ranks all the way to being an officer without school and some of the other things that get people to officer so quickly these days. You really earned every advancement with your hard work, dedication, and attitude.
When I did the tribute album for you guys it was so fun to get back letters from people that knew you back then and read about what a great guy they thought you were.
Also, I know that serving in Vietnam so many times and in the way that you did, altered you forever. I know that you will never be the same and you have had to deal with that for so many years. I am so sorry that you have to. But I am so grateful that you are the kind of man that was willing to do it and that you served so honorably and were so brave.
Thank you for sending mom and I to PEI the first time. It came in a time in my life when I really needed it. It meant so much to me. And thank you for coming along on the second trip and all the many road trips we have taken since then. You and mom and I really have made so many wonderful on the road memories (and Abi too!) "Since when does a hummingbird start with H?"
Thanks for being such a great grandfather. It was so fun to watch how much Madeline loved playing games with you. You are a very special person to my girls and they love having you around.
I love you dad. I hope you know that every day.
Love,
Cheryl

Dear Mom,

I guess I have taken a 'thank you' route with these letters so....

Thank you for being a stay at home mom. I needed that. I am sure some kids do fine without it, especially when they are teenagers, but I wouldn't have. During my crazy junior high years when all my friends were taking drugs and skipping school I didn't do it because I knew if I missed one class you would be home to get the call from the school telling you that I did. I knew I couldn't come home during the day because you would be there. It really did keep me out of a lot of trouble.
Thank you for reading to me as a kid. As I read the Little House books to Abi every night I realize just how important it was that I had that example. It means so much to her and it reminds me of how special I felt as you were reading Little Women and Little Men and Hans Brinker to us.
Thank you for making every holiday seem like a festival. I have so many great holiday memories and I love to pass that on.
Thank you for getting me. You and I have so much fun together because we really do have a lot in common. Now, if I could only have your will power and cleaning skills I'd be set.
Thanks for making the time to go on trips with me. Thank you for coming out so often to visit us.
I know we talked the other day about how most years that we have been out here you have come out twice; once in the spring and once in the fall. And yes, I was bringing that up to try to talk you into coming out this spring and again next fall.... but it really has been so awesome to have you here.
So many of our best memories are when you are here.
Doug and I were talking the other day about how fun it was the first time you were out and we were still in that teeny rental but we watched all the cheesy Disney Halloween movies and drank hot chocolate. We made a lot of great memories.
I often think about getting out of the car in the middle of  Ontario and running laps around the car and down the road in the middle of the night to wake ourselves up, shaw wap shaw wap, and so many other things.
It has been so fun to share our love of movies and books. I love our movie get togethers.
Thanks for always being there for me. Thanks for not minding that I call you every morning. It stars my day off right!
Thank you for being such an amazing grandma. Our girls love you so much and as stated occasionally I am #2 next to you in Abi's eyes. I really think she is planning on living with you when she is older. You are so special to her. I think she regards you as her best friend too.
You are the best mom ever and I am so glad to have you as my bestie.
I love you.
Love,

Cheryl

Blog Challenge day 23

Something you crave a lot:

Easy. Diet Pepsi. More specifically Diet Pepsi with lime. It's yummy. I know it's not the healthiest thing in the world to drink soda every day but honestly, when I'm craving something sweet and I can pick up a can of Diet Pepsi with zero calories in it rather than something like candy... it helps.

I could list other types of food and drink but the thing I am craving the most lately is a finding a little patch of sun to curl up in like a cat...

That sounds so heavenly to me and I can almost feel it if I imagine really hard. You know you live in Wisconsin when in March you are craving sunshine more than anything else!


And while I am putting pictures of orange cats on the blog.... I used to own an orange occicat and I think they are just about cuter than anything...

Blog Challenge day 22

A picture of you and your adult friends:

I don't have many pictures of me with my friends nowadays.  I started thinking about who have been my best friends over the past few years and here is what I came up with.

Doug, of course. Doug and I fell back into dating in our mid twenties quite easily because we were such good friends. This picture was taken the summer before we got married...

My family really are my best friends. I think of many people in my family and Doug's family as best friends but ultimately my mom has become my bestest friend. 

Also, my children. I mostly act the mom role because I know that is important but I hope they think of me as a friend as well and that when they are adults we can share the same kind of relationship I have with my mom.

I have to mention my dad as well. For a few years we three were the 3 musketeers.

I really didn't feel like digging into my other computer for pictures of all of my non-relative best friends so I'll just shout out to my best friend in Utah- Traci. She is awesome and fun and is one of the only people in the world I am 100% myself around. 

Here in Kenosha I have made many good friends and I did have a couple of pictures from some of our parties on this computer. 

Taylor and I at Andra's house for a 'Bachelor' finale when I was pregnant with Maddy....

And here is cute Emily when we went to get ice cream after a Woman's conference around the same time. Emily is one of those people everyone loves. She is pretty much the kindest person I have ever met.

So to all of you not pictured- I still love you. I just don't have pictures of all of you.

Blog Challenge day 21

A picture of something that made you happy this week:

I have really enjoyed reading this series with Abigail every night. We are almost done with this book and a few days ago we were reading a chapter where a young girl comes to visit the Ingalls home. Mary and Laura have to keep her occupied while their mothers chat and the girl starts ripping up their paper dolls. The girls are distressed and Mary tells Laura to get her beloved rag doll, Charlotte, from their attic room for the girl to play with because she won't be able to ruin it.
This plan works except that when it is time to go the little girl doesn't want to let go of Charlotte. Ma, not knowing how much Laura still loved her little doll, tells Laura to let her keep it.
Abigail was crying! She couldn't believe that Ma was so mean to give away Charlotte! She cried again later when Laura found her in the mud, mostly ruined, at the girls house. But, all was well when Ma was able to fix and clean her up real nice and apologized to Laura.
I am glad that my little girl is tenderhearted enough to feel sad for Laura. And I'm glad that she and I get to enjoy books together.

Blog challenge day 20

Why do you live where you live?

Short Answer: Doug's job

Long answer:

Right after Abi was born, Doug applied for a job at Discover Card's corporate offices in IL. He got the job but we had some time until we would move as he trained. We flew out in May of 2006 to look at houses. We found a few that we liked. We visited the ward and met a few really great people. One girl I talked to told me where not to live. We scratched houses in those areas off of our list. By the end of the short trip we had decided to build a home because it was only a difference of a few thousand dollars.
We moved out here in August. Our house would not be done until January so we lived in a rental house for a while. It was then that we became really grateful we had decided to build. Our town is kind of weird. It doesn't feel like there is a bad side of town and a good side of town to me. It seems like they are all mixed in together. You can go down one street and have a neighborhood with huge mansions and then a street over have run down apartments and houses that seem very ghetto-ish and then a couple streets over have nice houses again.
Our rental house was too close to a bad area for my liking. I know some people live in that area and think it is nice but I hated it. Every few nights we would hear the alarm go off at the car wash across the street. We were way too close to the old walmart and I saw lots of crazy things go on there.
We live in a nice neighborhood, not overly friendly, but nice and safe.
I really do like living here. I love being so close to Chicago. But, if Doug didn't work here we would not be here. It is not our dream location. It's not where I want to live forever.

Blog Challenge day 19

Nicknames you have and why you have them:


I have a few...


Boo: this is shortened from Itsy Bitsy Boo boo Bear. Yes. It's true. That's what my mom always called me. I have no idea how that started or why. Mom, maybe you can shed some light on that in the comments?


Plum: This is what my dad calls me. Again, I have no idea why. Mom?


Spanky: This was a nickname in high school. Doug still calls me Spanky or Spanks sometimes. This started in a silly way. My friends and I used to draw pictures of frogs and other things all the time and every single time I would name them Spanky. I don't really remember exactly why but I thought it was funny. After about the 100th Spanky the paraplegic frog drawing they started calling me Spanky. Then it caught on. My family even started calling me Spanky as you can see in the ad they put in my yearbook.

Blog challenge day 18

Plans/dreams/goals you have for this year:

Oh so many.

First of course there is the one I already blogged about in my short term goals. I finally was getting close to my pre-pregnancy weight when Abi was 3. I'm hoping with Maddy I can do it before she is 2. And hopefully this time I can actually get to it not just close to it.

I want to finish writing the book I've been writing for a few years.

I want to read more books. This one is an easy one. I made a list last year of all the books I want to read and have been making my way through it. I want to finish that list... I may post it another day.

I want to be more patient and calm with my kids.

I want to be better at religious things.

Doug and I have this thing going that when we reach the mileage to a vacation spot together through running and walking then we get to go there. So, I'm hoping that by this summer we can be planning a vacation. We wanted to make it somewhere kind of close so we're looking at Hershey, PA. It's a fun place and Doug has never been.

Now that Abi is registered for Kindergarten I want to make sure she is completely ready (and me too!).

I want to spend more time in Chicago.

I want to visit Utah.

I want my mommy to come visit me.

I want my house to stay clean, my dishes to stay washed, and my laundry to get folded right when it gets out of the dryer.

I really want to wake up early enough that I can get my workout in, a shower, get ready, read personal scriptures and study before the kids wake up but every time I wake up a little earlier to do this they do too. So, it pretty much doesn't matter what time I get up, halfway through my treadmill workout I have kids crying and trying to show me things. So annoying. Maybe if I get up at 4?

Blog challenge day 17

Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why:

Wow. This one I had to think about for a while and I still don't really know the answer. I am not the type to wish I was somebody else so there really isn't anyone I want to be or switch lives with.

I would probably end up choosing to go back and switch lives with myself in my younger days to enjoy some things more, maybe say or do things I wish I would have said and done, or not do /say things I wish I wouldn't have done. That's about all I can think of.

Boring answer.

Blog Challenge day 16

You're happiest when...

There are two ways to answer this question for me. Two things that make me the happiest.


The first is being on an adventure with those I love. This doesn't have to be a trekking through the forest or hanging out in a shark cage kind of adventure although those would be awesome!
 By adventure I mean out doing something fun. I love when I am with my family and we are out doing something fun like going to a museum or amusement park or even a picnic. I love how excited the kids get to be going anywhere out of the ordinary and we always have so much fun together. I try to plan a fun outing at least once a week. 


The second thing that makes me the happiest is when I can curl up in a comfy chair in a tee shirt and lounge pants with either a cold drink or a hot chocolate and a good book and read for hours.

Blog Challenge Day 15

The last ten books you've read:


I am going to go backwards on this list, one being what I am reading right now. I won't count the books I read with Abi, only the ones I have read myself.


1. East of Eden by John Steinbeck- I have been reading this for the last week and am loving it so far. I have actually written down a few quotes already that I want to remember. I rarely do that.

2. The 39 Clues book one: Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan- After seeing this series of books all over the place I decided to give it a shot. It is an interesting concept. A woman passes away and the family members invited to the will reading are given the choice of a million dollars each or a chance to search for clues to something that will make them the most powerful person in the world. It kind of feels like National Treasure for kids. I enjoyed it enough that I want to read the rest of the series.

3. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare-  Loved it!  I love the way the series ended. She is now writing a trilogy of prequels and I have the first one. I just haven't read it yet. She is also said to be planning a trilogy of sequels.

4. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare- The second in the series. I enjoyed it as much as the first one which always makes a series readable to me.

5. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare- I had seen the Mortal Instruments trilogy at stores for some time and heard a lot of praise for them. I wasn't sure if I would like them. Then one day at church my friend Emma recommended them to me so I checked them out. I loved City of Bones from the get go. It is fast paced, interesting, and fun. I immediately put the two sequels on hold at the library and now I own them.

6. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull- I re-read this one for my book club. It is a favorite series of mine. So, I enjoyed it as always.

7. Charlie Bone and the Red Knight by Jenny Nimmo- This was the last in a series of books about Charlie Bone, a boy that is 'endowed' with a magical gift and goes to a special school. (kind of harry potterish but still has enough of its own storyline to not be a knock off). I heard about these books while at Disney World. I enjoyed them enough to read the entire series but they are more for kids. I would definitely recommend them to a young audience.

8. Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld- I am so in love with this series of books. Unfortunately for me it is a trilogy and the third book is not out yet so I have to wait. This is the sequel to Leviathan. It is steampunk at its finest. The characters are so much fun and I just love the artwork.

9. Wuthering Height by Emily Bronte- While not the most enjoyable happy book, I really enjoyed reading it. This is such an interesting and dark novel. It was also for the book club and was my first time reading it.

10. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld- I felt like re-reading it one weekend while waiting to get Behemoth and after reading Leviathan while on a Scott Westerfeld kick. It is such a good book. I found it just as fast paced and fun as ever.

3.

Blog Challenge day 14

A picture of you and your family:

Blog Challenge day 13

A letter to someone who has hurt you recently:

Dear Walmart,

I really don't appreciate buying potatoes from you and opening the pantry to a putrid smell less than a week later. It's not just the rotting potatoes. It's the fact that this is the second time this has happened.
Can you work on that for me?

Sincerely,

Cheryl (the girl who wasn't able to make baked potatoes tonight.)