Five Question Friday

Another Friday. Another chance to participate.




1. If you could, would you go back to high school?

Let me think about this one for a milisecond...no way! While I enjoyed the freedom from responsibility that comes along with high school and pretty much complete dependence on someone else, I really like being a wife and a mom and I'm pretty sure many people would have frowned upon me assuming those roles at 16.

2. If a genie appeared and granted you two wishes, what would they be? (And, no saying "more wishes".)

I'd with for a guarantee that my kids will decide to love and follow Jesus. And then I'd wish for someone else to come and finish potty training Wesley and come back when it's Elise's turn.

3. What kids show do you secretly like?

We don't watch that many kids shows, but I do kind of like when we happen to see Sid the Science Kid. Must be something about his crazy hair.

4. What is your beverage of choice?

Coffee. I wish it was as necessary to life as water. However, since it's not, I try to limit myself to one cup (and by cup I mean the largest insulated mug I can find) a day.

5. What is something that you would change about yourself (or are working to change in yourself)?

Too many to list here, but one thing that's really been on my heart lately is being more gentle in my approach with my children. I'm constantly reminded that, at their young age, I represent God to my children and I want them to see all of His traits in me, especially that He is a gentle, loving, comforting God.

Five Question Friday

Another Friday. Another chance to participate.




1. What was the first car you owned?

I owned or my parents owned and let me use? Because I didn't actually own a car until I was married and we bought the Grand Prix. Now that I have children and money of my own I realize the foolishness of thinking that I ever really had a car (or anything for that matter) before I bought my own. I just got to use one.

2. What song are you embarrassed to know the lyrics to?

Acy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus. What an awful song!

3. Have you ever had stitches?

Yep. No more details.

4. What was your first job?

My first summer job was at an in-home daycare two houses down from ours. The pay was below minimum wage, but I didn't know any better. I was just happy to have some extra money. Dumb kid.

5. Who is your favorite Sesame Street character?

Big Bird, hands down.

What're You Up To Elise?

Our baby girl is growing up so fast! At 15 1/2 months old, she's not our little baby anymore (not that she was ever really our little baby). In fact, she's a 27 pound (94th percentile), 32 inch (87th percentile) almost-but-not-quite-there toddler. She still prefers scooting to crawling and hasn't quite mastered walking, though her grandpa is convinced it will be "any day now." If you're wondering what a 15-month-old spends her days doing you've come to the right place. Elise would tell you that lately she's been:

chatting with "friends"...

playing at parks...

rockin' out with Daddy's (Guitar Hero) guitar...

wearing pigtails, sipping through straws and sitting at "big kid" tables...

meeting new friends...

wearing lots of "pretties" and reading lots of books...

playing kazoos, wearing hats and partying with friends...

and growing up right before your very eyes.

Writing Myself an Excuse Note

Remember when you were in school and if you were absent you had to bring a note from your mom? Since I'm not school-aged anymore and this isn't school (as educational as it may be at times) I'm writing my own note: Please excuse my absense as I've been away discovering my new toy.

Any guesses?

If you guessed a new camera, specifically a Nikon D3000 with additional lens kit and a 10,000-page book to learn how to use it (okay, 10,000 pages might be an exaggeration) then you were right! I got it for my birthday. From my husband. He's great. Not just because he gets me great gifts, though.

I got through the start-up guide on the first night. That was a lot of pages too. The book is taking me a bit longer to go through because I want to memorize every single word so that when I'm taking pictures I can make all the right adjustments and have nothing but fabulous pictures to show. So far the good pictures are mostly a result of the camera's "auto" function. I know that will change, but it's going to take a lot of practice.

I'm not very good at editing the photos yet either. I have a free trial of Photoshop Elements (only 26 days left!) that I have to figure out too. However, I did just get a call from the library that the "Photoshop for Dummies" book I placed on hold is ready for me. And boy am I ready for it.

So when you're wandering aimlessly around blog land wondering, "when will she post again?" (a girl can dream) just take comfort in the fact that there will soon be marvelously captured and/or edited photos for all to see. Until then...

Five Question Friday

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1. What words do you use on your blog/online that you don't use in real life?

Um...none. If you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly "Ms. English Teacher" when it comes to writing on the ol' blog (not that it's bad to be an English teacher and, believe me, I'm as big a fan of proper use of grammar and punctuation as anyone I know, but here...well, I just don't find it necessary) so if I'm thinking it in my head, that's how it's coming out on my fingers.

2. Do you still write checks?

Pretty much never. I'm lucky if I write a check once a month.

3. Who was your favorite President and why?

Hands down, Ronald Reagan. I'm a big fan of low taxes and letting the American people keep as much of their hard earned money as possible.

4. Are you a yeller?

Unfortunately, yes. I'd rather not be a yeller and it's something I'm trying to change.

5. Have you ever dumpster dived?

Gross. No. I don't even like to touch the outside of the garbage receptacles in public places. There's no way I'm going in. Ish.

Five Question Friday

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1. Do you sing out loud in the car when you're driving?

The car is my stage. In college when no "carpoolers" were available and I would have to make the 3 1/2 hour drive home by myself, I looked forward with great anticipation to the concert I would perform, carefully choosing just the right cds to ensure my audience was delighted.

2. What would you never be caught doing?

There are too many things to list. See question 3.

3. Will you go #2 in a public restroom?

Much much too personal. No comment. Moving on.

4. Have you ever broken a bone?

No and I plan to keep it that way. Though most people probably don't actually plan to break bones so even if I plan to never break a bone I still might. I guess. If I'm not careful. Which, I am. Refer to question 2.

5. Do you prefer cooking or baking?

Definitely cooking. Despite my affinity for rules and (everyone) following them (all the time), I feel a little constrained, or maybe intimidated, by the precision that baking requires.