Stealing Kelli's post idea

So Kelli took this idea from US Weekly, and I love stuff like this, (Reading it about other people, I mean...not so much doing it), so I'm stealing this idea from Kelli.  And I'm encouraging everyone and anyone to do the same.  Cause I'll read it with great interest, fyi.  


25 things about me:

1.  I'm the oldest of four kids.  And though they are all grown and have their own lives and such, I still feel like I need to look out for them.  Old habits die hard, I guess.  However, the truth is, I was never a very good sister.  I was mean and impatient, and that was a huge reason I didn't really want to be a mom.  I love my siblings, and loved them then, but I wasn't kind, and I said a lot of things that I still regret to this day--not fond memories.  Luckily, my sisters and brother are forgiving people and my relationship with my kids isn't like the relationship I had with my siblings.  I really feel like having Jeff has helped me in that area, big time.  It's nice to have someone to keep you on your toes.  Maybe having siblings is some kind of trial run for one day having your own family?  


2.  I lean toward the left side of politics.  However, I do have some conservative views as well.  I have a hard time with people that continually blame all problems on the President, or Senators, or Congress--I feel like it shows no responsibility or imagination.  I don't fully believe any politicians, regardless of religion, or past, or heritage.  I feel like to be a successful politician, you have to be really slimy.  Otherwise, you would have gotten out of the game a long time ago.  And you also have to be a people-pleaser.  Because that's what a politician's life is, and that's what they are paid to do.  I also hate doing the reading and studying of political stances and opinions and whatever.  Because it always changes.  


3.  Sometimes I have panic attacks that Jeff, Riley, Cole, or Syd will be hurt or disappear.  It happens at nights, mostly.  Especially if I wake up and can't go back to sleep.  It's been a lot more frequent since I lost my dad.  

4.  This time of year is my favorite time.  Not just because it's the Holiday season, but from October to December is time period when Jeff and I first began dating/seeing each other exclusively/engaged. Um, in that order, and yes, that quickly.  It was quite a few years ago, but it seems like I can recall a lot of those feelings at this time of year.  Add in the factors of Riley, Cole, and Syd, and I have so much more than I could have imagined when I thought about what life would be with Jeff.  It's better than I imagined.  


5.  I love things that smell good.  I'm obsessed with smelling plug-ins, and candles, and oil and reed diffusers and anything that makes my home smell not like...people.  And I could stay in stores like Bath and Body Works for hours.  And buy everything they show me.  If I were rich, I'd buy that entire place.  


6.  I can't sleep without a body pillow and a fan.  Sleeping anywhere other than my own bed causes me great anxiety.  Almost to the point of making any attempts to be away from my home a night or two not worth it.  


7.  Speaking of anxiety, I used to believe that I was turning into a person more like my husband, in that I've gotten to the point where I just like to be home, and anything outside of my day-to-day routine causes me stress.  And I am now thinking it's because my anxiety has gotten out of control. Either that, or I AM just overly anti-social, like Jeff.  It's a toss-up. 

8.    I usually don't get scared watching movies.  But Quarantine, with Deb, from Dexter?  Scared the $h!* out of me.  I am freaked out by people becoming zombies or monsters through science-gone-wrong. 


9.  I am positively terrified of tape-worms.  One of the reasons I refuse to have a dog. 



10.  I wish everyday that I was skinny.  Somehow the idea of being skinny seems like it would solve every problem I ever had/have in my life.  


11.  My dream house is on sale here in Springville.  It's the house I have daydreamed that if I were a millionaire, I would have gone up to the door, and offered the owner a very large sum of money just to hand it over to me.  I'm sure it's way out of any conceivable price range Jeff and I will ever have.  So I refuse to check the price, because I know the truth will break my heart.  


12.  I love Christmas music.  Rather than being annoyed with it, like a lot of people, it makes me happy.  And when musical groups or artists that I regularly listen to put out a Christmas song, I take it as a personal victory.  Happy day for me. 


13. I have started to notice wrinkles around my eyes.  And it's kind of scary how quickly it's happened.  Not that it's bad, though.  They're mainly laugh lines.  I'm just surprised how one day I woke up and saw them.  This kind of freaks me out about how quickly time passes. 


14.  Before I met Jeff, I went to lunch with Keri one day.  And when I got into her silver Honda, she had like, three Tori Amos CDs on her passenger side floor.  I said something about loving Tori Amos, and then she told me that the CDs weren't hers, they were her brother's.  In that instant, I was interested in her brother, whom I later found out was Jeff.  I always said that if I'd ever found a guy that loved Tori the way I did, that would be it.  And I was right.  


15.  There is nothing more fun for me to buy than lip gloss.  I couldn't even tell you how many tubes/sticks/pots I have in my room, my purse, my car...you get the idea.  


16.  I can't go into Video rental places...or DVD rentals...whatever they're called now.  They cause me so much anxiety I feel like I want to barf.  Or throw all the stuff to the ground.  I don't know why, but I start out with a headache as soon as I walk through the door, and hit complete crazy town about six minutes later.  Redbox is a lifesaver for me. 



17.  I'm always amazed when I watch The Office at my feelings for Michael.  I find it confusing that I can absolutely detest someone and be embarrassed by them, and feel sorry for them, all at once.  But I'm also relieved that I can feel such a wide range of emotions during a prime-time television show.  Say what you will, but The Office makes me feel.

18.  Music can make anything better. However, I really despise any type of "Christian Rock", by any artist.  I can't get over the lameness of it. 


19.  Jeff only works two days a week.  Well, technically he works five days a week, but he only goes into the office two days.  And those are the worst days of my week.  Honestly, I wasn't sure how it would be, having him home so often...especially since I'd become so accustomed to him being gone.  At first it was an adjustment.  Now I absolutely hate Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I feel like he now has to stay at PMI forever, because if he went back to a "regular" work schedule, I'd die.  

20.   I have two friends that live in my neighborhood.  In the summer we go walking at nights, or just get together to have our kids play, or watch movies.  We all have kids in various stages and we are all alike in our personal belief systems and just seem to laugh a lot when we're together.  Also, I can be really honest with them, and I don't feel judged.  It's nice, because that is kind of rare, I think.  

21.  I hate when people refer to themselves in the third person.  Rainey doesn't like that.  Not at all.  See how creepy that is?


22.  In my dreams, I am Hi. Larious.  Seriously.  Jeff pointed out that this is only in my dreams, but when I wake up in the middle of the night, wondering how I got to be so witty and comical while comatose, I sometimes even laugh aloud.  Then I really try to remember what it is that I said, and wait all the next day to use it in context.  Mostly I don't ever get the chance...but when I do?  That's a good day, my friends.  


23.  Sometimes I think that if I could get away with staying the entire day in my bed, I would.  Sometimes I actually try it.  And then I have to pee.  And from there, all Hell breaks loose, so by now I should realize that it is in fact, an impossibility.  But every Saturday, I wonder if it will be "the day". 



24.  When I can help someone...really help them, it makes me happy.  Perhaps that is the "spirit of service" everyone talks about.  However, when people expect me to help them, like, it's my job or something?  It makes me think up any excuse to get out of it.  And I end up resenting it.  And then I find ways to avoid those people and their--demands, I should say--from then on.  
On the other hand, when I can't help someone that really needs it, my heart breaks a little.  And it can make me sad for days, because there is nothing I can do, and I feel helpless.



25.  I am fiercely protective of my family.  For the trash that I talk and the opinions I have, it may not seem like it...but I am.  I guess the main thing that I've learned as I've grown older, is that no one is perfect, or even close.  And we say things that imply that we know how to make others perfect, when that isn't the case, at all.  So to friends and family that wonder?  You're loved.  Maybe I don't show it the way that I should.  Maybe I can't right now.  Maybe I have a lot of things inside that don't make any sense or make too much sense, that I'm trying to work out, before I explode and say hurtful things that I don't really mean.  I have come to a different conclusion of what family is...very different than what I had thought it was for a long time.  And I'm still working on that conclusion.  I'm still figuring out where I fit in.  So I ask for time and patience, but I don't demand it.  If there are some that can't understand the reasoning behind my actions, that's okay, and I say, I don't expect to be understood.  But if you could try to respect my feelings,  however different and confusing they are, I will try to respect yours.  Thanks, and much love. 

My Bubby turned 1.

And I turned a little more than 1.  Hopefully the year's growth in me isn't as obvious as it is with my Squish.  The top picture was courtesy of Desisto Digitals, obviously...and that doesn't seem that long ago.  You all saw my fabulous Jeffrey's post dedicated to how wonderful I am.  ;)  I honestly hate putting anything up after he does that, though.  It just makes me so happy to read about how great he thinks I am on any given day. And to see your wishes for a happy birthday to me--well, it just makes for some good reading.  Ahh.   See how much Syd means to me?  I'm giving all that up.  For her.  

So my little Squid is now a year old.  Oooh how I love my Bubby-Boo.  I'm a little sad that this time has come, and so quickly.  She's only been here with us for a little over 12 months, but somehow she's completely assimilated herself into our little family.  She's bossy and gassy and grabby, and grumbly...but no matter what she does, she's our baby.  She's waited on, and catered to, and spoiled rotten.  And she's a brat...the biggest brat by far of my babies.  But for some reason, this is acceptable to all of us.  This is her "thing", or the niche that she fills in our family.  Needless to say, we all have fallen in love with her.  And she takes full advantage.  

We went to Pirate Island Pizza.  We'd never been before, and no, the fact that Sydney only turned a year old didn't escape me, I knew that she wouldn't get much more out of it than some bites of pizza, but I wanted Riley and Cole to have some stuff to do, too.  We had my sister and brother and his wife come with us, as well.  Which I was happy that they braved the cold night, and came to keep us company.  And Jess had to tell me that our waiter was faking a pirate accent.  Which, I was glad that he did, because I wasn't very keen on the fakeness of it...and could very easily see me asking where he was from later on.  And then when he would have said "Provo", or "West Jordan", I would have felt incredibly dumb.   On a different topic, I need to give Muff props as last month she surprised me and Syd by making this cute little skirt.  And Sydney loved it--she'd be so completely pissed when I would take it off of her.

So it was fun, I thought.  We just ate dinner and then played at the arcade.  The kids had something to do, and so did Jeff, and I had a babysitter for Syd, (her aunt Gabby) and got to visit with my brother and sister.  It was a nice night.  I wished Lora would have been there, but that's how it goes when you're adults and have to live where you can work and such, I suppose.  Btw, Riley and Cole and Jeff won me some super cool items, and I'll treasure them for pretty much ever.  I mean, what can't you do with a five inch tall pirate bear?  Exaaaaaactly.   

After the eating and the winning and the gifts for Syd--some really cute cars and some balloons, and a blanket that she hasn't put down, we all went home.  I always wondered as a kid why my mom got so completely stressed about kid birthday parties.  Now I know.  Even when they go well, they are just a lot of work.  I had stressed about it all day, and Muff and Jeff helped me a lot.  And I didn't even have to do any cooking or entertaining or anything.  I think that it was just going out and getting out of my pajamas, or something.  

Then it was time for MY presents.  I got the new Super Mario Brothers Wii game.  And fyi...I love it.  I'm not much of a video game player, but it's a different story with the classics.  And I got some jewels, and some clothing, and some music...and I got to play with all my new toys before bed.  It was a good birthday. 

And Syd had fun, too, I think.  But like I said, she's a big brat...so maybe all of her complaining wasn't as good-natured as I led myself to believe.  But one thing IS for certain...Jeff and these little people we created are my very best friends.  They make me laugh harder and love stronger than I knew to be possible.  And I'm a lucky, lucky 27 year old.  Again. 

Happy Birthday! -- by Jeff

Yes that's right Rainey's birthday is today. She's officially 27 (wink, wink). I would like to take this opportunity to gush about my wonderful wife. (I mean come on, check out how hot she is!)

When you get married, and you're newly in love you think, it doesn't get much better than this... It can't possibly get much better than this, right? Wrong! This is the 11th birthday I've spent with Rainey and I tell you it just keeps getting better and better. Every year I find new things to love about her. I thought that probably that light she has inside her would have dulled, if just a little, over the years. It hasn't. If anything it's brightened. The things she is capable of, the way she makes me feel... it's throat closing, eyes watering, chest bursting fantastic! I am so proud of who she has become and so excited to see who she will yet be. She continues to surprise me and challenge me. She is my best friend always and forever. She is one of those people that everyone want's to be around and believe me I know how lucky I am to be the one who she spends the most of her time with. I know to how lucky my kids are that they also get to share that time with her.

She's come along way in the past year. Realizing what makes her happy and what's most important. My life would be a pitiful shadow of what it is now if it weren't for her. I am thankful every day that I have her by my side. Happy Birthday Rain. I love you. You deserve everything I can give, and so much more.

Oh, yeah... and Happy Birthday Story.