Common Mom

Leeann did this and I thought it would be fun All the thing’s I have done are in bold. Those I have not are regular.

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby’s diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said “I love you” and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don’t
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someones mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter

Well, not ALL about me because really, where’s the mystery in that? Here it is for post #325 . . .

Did you always want only 2 children - Originally, I wanted 3. I don’t know why, but I always thought I wanted 3, and Hubby was on board with that as well. I also wanted to be finished having babies by the time I was 30. We had some trouble getting Dude, but after a couple years he joined our family. I was SOOO glad to have a boy first. I’m so NOT  a girly girl and I knew that if I had a girl she would be a Princess, and I thought having 3 princesses would be the death of me We wanted our kids about 2 years apart, and with the trouble we had getting Dude to join the family, we decided to get a move on. BAM! Pregnant . . . due in December, 3 days shy of another famous birthday. Princess joined our family 3 months and 1 day after my 30th birthday. We weren’t sure we were finished yet . . . so I didn’t get anything “taken care of” during my c-section. Eventually, about 2 years later, neither one of us had made the move to suggest child #3. We kind of realized that we were content with our 2 1/2 kids. We were out of diapers, out of sippy cups, out of strollers . . . we were happy. So, we decided not to have #3. Princess, however, would love nothing more than to have a new baby in the house (not happening!).

What is the one thing that Hubby does that drives you CRAZY? - Just one, huh? Hmmmm . . . it’ll take some time to narrow it down. Just kidding Honey! I must admit that Hubby is wonderful and we’ve taken measures to ensure the “crazy” things are in check. We don’t share a bathroom, so he can “not” screw the cap on the toothpaste if he doesn’t want to. He can leave the seat up if he wants (but he doesn’t). We clean our own bathrooms, so the men of the house can aim and miss as much as they want. He’s great at laundry, even pretty good at the folding part. He’s wonderful with our kids. He scrubs the kitchen floor while I’m at work. So what does he do that drives me crazy? He walks REALLY loudly up the steps, late, when we’re all TRYING to sleep. He’s the loudest walker ever . . . walks on his heels, and “hops” up and down steps. When I get up early to go to work when he’s home, I walk softly and avoid any squeaks and creaks that exist. I close doors quietly so as to not wake the sleeping beasts. When Hubby comes home late from work, he jumps up the steps on his heels, knocking pictures of the walls and making all the dogs in the neighborhood bark. When he leaves early for work, it’s even worse. There is much pounding and hammering on the steps as he leaves. So there . . . that’s the one stupid thing that he does that drives me crazy

Give me the talk that you are going to give the first boy that shows up on your doorstep to pick up your daughter. - “Hi “guy”. I assume you know my daughter, but just in case you don’t . . . Do NOT give her whatever she wants just because she blinks those huge blue eyes at you. She’s strong-willed and independent - do NOT let her walk all over you.” Oh, not what you had in mind? I remember my mom saying that to Hubby . . . “You stand up for yourself and don’t let her walk all over you!” Um, thanks Mom For real, Princess is not the one I’m worried about. She so independent and can take care of herself. She already knows our expectations. I hope that we will have raised her right so she can make the best decisions for herself. The talk will be simple and with both of them. “Be careful. Have fun. Don’t get into trouble. Call if you need anything. Be home by 10:00. I love you.”

What was your worst and best post about? - Hmmmm, worst and best. I don’t know if I can pick a worst. I mean, would you post something if you thought it was “worst”? So I’m going with worst for me as far as feelings. It has to be this one. This was such a sad day for us. I still cry when I think about her (like right now I’m tearing up) - ya, that’s sad, she’s a dog. But she was part of our family, and we all loved her dearly. For best I’m going with “funniest” - cuz I still shake my head every time I think of this day and have even come to a point where I can laugh about how ridiculous it was - 3 years later

What would your kids’ names have been if they were born the opposite sex? - This one’s pretty easy since we only had one boy and one girl name picked out - Jason and Keira. I guess we’re lucky we had one of each However, had we ended up with two of the same sex, the boys would have been Jason and Ayden, and the girls probably would have been Keira and Rebekka (Bekka).

What do you love most about Hubby and the kids? - Hubby, it’s so tough to pick what I love MOST about him - there are so many things I love about him. I have to say that I love that he puts up with me. I’m independent, I share my feelings (good and bad), and can be moody. He takes it all in stride and balances me out. He makes me feel special every single day. He’s my best friend - we have so much in common. He is a wonderful father - I have yet to see another father out there who is so involved and in tune with his kids, what they want, what they like, and what they need. Kids - I love my  kids dearly for so many reasons! Dude - he’s sensitive like his father. He’s happy. He’s funny. He’s smart. He’s outgoing. He’s a wonderful brother to his little sister. He’s a great friend. He’s helpful around the house. He’s got the best giggle you’ve ever heard - I’ll tickle him just to hear his wonderful giggle! He loves outside as much as I do. He loves sports. Princess - she’s strong-willed and independent like her mother. She challenges me every day, and I love her for it. She’s sensitive - she cried for hours for Queen Taunya the other night when QT called to tell us she had to put her dog down. She’s an athlete. She’s a girly girl, but not a “pink” girl. She’ll wear that princess dress, but she’ll kick your ass while wearing it if necessary. She’s got a great sense of humor. She teases her big brother. She is wonderful to her “babies.” She is loyal to her friends. She’s got the most infectious laugh you’ve ever heard. You can’t help but smile when you hear it. There are so many things about all 3 of them . . . I could go on and on and on.

Where is your dream vacation? - Camping in the mountains. I LOVE camping. I grew up camping at the lake. Every summer my family moved out of our house into our little camper that we parked at a lake. Every summer the same other families camped there, in the same spots. We got to know them well and were great friends. The weird thing? There were 4 families of Millers that met there! And even weirder? Two of the families had kids with the same names . . . Tammy/Tami, Tracy/Traci, Terry/Teri, Todd/Todd. The one family also had a Tom and a Tim. But WEIRD man! We would get up at 5:00 a.m. when my cousin came to get us in the pickup. We’d pile in the back, ride to the field, and walk beans until noon. Then we’d head back to the campground and play all day - skiing, swimming, cruising around in the boats, playing volleyball, playing softball - all without a parent in sight (they were working) and all without a cell phone. Every  night we had a bonfire, roasted hot dogs and hamburgers, ate s’mores, and talked and laughed until after midnight. We’re all alive, we got tons of exercise, and we had so much fun. I think that’s why I love camping. It’s one of my fondest childhood memories. I love being outside and in nature . . . my kids love it as well. Hubby likes it, and probably does it more because I like it than anything. I love the campfires, the s’mores, the quiet family time, the family hikes, the adventures, the fishing, the swimming, the lack of TV, the lack of phones, the lack of computers. I love all of it. A week camping with my family and going with the flow is my dream vacation

If you could have a super power, what would it be? - Patience. That would be my super power. I have NONE. I admire anyone with patience, especially parents. It’s so difficult for me and is DEFINITELY a super power I’d like to possess. I think I’m a wonderful mommy, but every day I regret something I said to my children because of my lack of patience. It’s not patience as far as waiting for them to do stuff, but patience in not flying off the handle for the little things. Most days, they probably don’t even care, but I have a guilty conscience (which I hope to pass on to them - a little guilt is a good thing!) and will think about something I said or did for days - all because I didn’t have patience and think before I said or did something. I REALLY want patience.

What’s on your iPod? - A little bit of a lot of stuff I listen to pretty much everything, except rap and really hard stuff. A sampling of artists in my top rated . . . Alabama, Barenaked Ladies, Billy Joel, Blue October, Collective Soul, Daughtry, Crash Test Dummies, Dixie Chicks, The Eagles, Elvis, Fastball, Finger Eleven, Five Times August, Gear Daddies, Goo Goo Dolls, Garth Brooks, Grateful Dead, Green Day, Jack Johnson, Jim Brickman, John Mayer, Maroon 5, Matchbox 20, Natasha Bedingfield, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Norah Jones, Paul Simon, Plain White T’s, Santana, Sister Hazel, Steve Miller Band, Super Tramp, Third Eye Blind, Train, The Verve, The Wallflowers, .38 Special . . . to name a few Lots of pictures of my kids and hubby, and a couple movies that the kids watched on the plane last weekend.

What’s your favorite food? - Favorite food . . . depends on my mood and what “day” it is Lately I’m really in to fish. I’ve always loved fish, but lately that’s what I’m craving. If I had to pick an all-time favorite that I could eat every day, it would be Hubby’s guacamole. I don’t like guacamole . . . except his . . . it’s AWESOME!

How did you and Hubby meet? - It’s so very romantic - we met at the Holiday Inn in college. Oh clear your dirty mind! Not like that! He worked at the front desk and I was a waitress in the dining room My aunt was the food and beverage manager and introduced us. Hubby’s roommate was a waiter - I didn’t know they were roommates - so I was babbling on how cute I thought Hubby was. So Hubby called to ask me out - thing is, I was still dating someone else. So I turned him down. BUT, I was actually on the phone breaking up with the other dude when Hubby called. So I called him back later and the rest is history

How many siblings do you have? - 5. 1 biological brother and 4 step-sisters - 2 each from my Mom and Dad’s current marriages.

I’m WAAAYYYY delinquent on doing this . . . so here goes . . . all of them at once! Oh, and before I get started, be sure to stop over at Melanie’s to sign Mr. Linky and check out the other people who’re participating

Thank you to Pam for passing on the I <3 Your Blog award to me I heart your blog, too! I’m still amazed at how many people I’ve gotten to know on the Web. It’s fun to check in and see how everyone’s fam is doing and how they’re dealing with the “things” in their lives.

I’m passing this award on to Ami at Cup Runneth Over. Ami and Rick moved away from our beautiful state a few years ago, and I love being able to check up on her and her three beautiful boys every day.

I was also tagged by Melanie to do the middle name meme. 

1. You must post the rules on your post before you answer the questions.
2. You need to list one fact about yourself using each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use your maiden name instead.
3. When you are finished with your answers, tag one person for each letter of your name.

When I got married, I wanted to keep my maiden name as my regular last name. Hubby had some good reasons why I shouldn’t, and it was more important to him that I take his name than it was to me to keep my own. So, in my infinite wisdom, I kept my middle name AND added my maiden name to my middle name. I will not be using both middle names I’m going to be lazy and use my shorter actual middle name.

Love love love love love the outdoors.
Yo yoing is something I did well as a child.
Nothing makes me happier than spending time with my family.
Neatness is a curse I live with every single day.

Pam tagged me for the 5 things kids meme:

5 things I want my kids to know:

1. How much I love them.
2. How much I love their Dad.
3. How proud I am to be their mother.
4. Very few things can make you feel better than anonymously helping some in need.
5. Nobody is perfect.

5 things you want to tell your children when they are grown up:

1. How proud I am of them.
2. To have an open mind.
3. Always be yourself. You should never change for anyone except yourself.
4. Never say anything about someone that you wouldn’t say directly to them.
5. Don’t forget your friends and family - nothing is more important.

5 things you want to tell your children before you die:

1. You need to work hard. Nothing worth having comes easy.
2. You are the most important things to ever happen to me.
3. You have shown me how to love somebody more than I ever thought was possible.
4. Everyone you meet has some effect on your life. Don’t shortchange anyone.
5. How much I love them.

5 things you want your children to know before they die:

1. Unconditional love from the right man/woman.
2. The absolute complete joy that comes with the toughest job in the world - being a parent.
3. She/he did the best they could every single day.
4. The feeling of pride in their accomplishments.
5. How much I love them.

Say What?! Andrea over at Lifesong high-fived me for this hoopla, and I thought it would be fun.

• Post these rules on your blog.
• List 10 things that won’t likely ever come out of your mouth.
• High-five any amount of people to do the same on their blog.
• Come back here to Lifesong and let me know that you did it.

1. Sign me up for that marathon!
2. Nah, I don’t wanna go to the lake.
3. Liver and onions? I’d LOVE to have that for dinner!
4. No thanks, I don’t like chocolate.
5. We’re going on vacation to Hawaii? I can’t! I have way too much work to do around here.
6. I’d prefer to clean the entire house by myself.
7. I guess I just didn’t like taking pictures of you guys when you were small.
8. I HATE my new Audi TT!
9. We need to move. I can’t STAND looking at these mountains every day.
10. Hey kids - say hello to your new baby sister!

And finally, Pam tagged me for the What Kind of Car Are You? meme Kinda weird how accurate these things can be

I’m a Chevrolet Corvette!

You’re a classic - powerful, athletic, and competitive. You’re all about winning the race and getting the job done. While you have a practical everyday side, you get wild when anyone pushes your pedal. You hate to lose, but you hardly ever do.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.