What a Blast!!!!

We have had such a fun time since I posted yesterday. We went to the Remick's last night around 6pm. We partied long and hard. We all ended up in the pool in our clothes because we didn't take suits. It was sooooo much fun! Great times with good friends- can't beat that. Julie invited everyone to Rockford to her mom's today. It ended up just being us, Bekins and Onstotts that went, and we had another great time. MUCH more low-key, but a relaxing fun afternoon. We laid out on their water tramp, grilled out burgers and dogs, swam, and hung out on the dock. The kids all fished and each of them caught at least one. We are just getting back and we have tired kids- YAY! Early to bed tonight. The kids had a lot of fun spending the night at the Boeves last night and they are worn out after their night and afternoon at the lake.

I saw Lynette's blog post today and am going to try and post 50 things about myself as well. It may bore you, but I found hers interesting to read and learned things about her that I didn't already know. So here it goes...

1. I was born in Raleigh, North Carolina.
2. I lived in Raleigh for 28 years. I didn't even leave for college.
3. I went to Meredith College for 4 years (it was about 5-10 minutes from my parent's house) and it was an all-female college. I had a full scholarship to college.
4. I graduated in 1992 and began teaching 9th grade English at Millbrook High School in Raleigh.
5. I taught in Raleigh for 6 years.
6. I moved to Zeeland in June of 1998 after meeting Ryan at Myrtle Beach and dating long distance since March of 1997.
7. I lived with Jennifer and Chad on W. Lawrence Street that summer until Ryan and I got married in December of 98. He proposed in October and we got married 6 weeks later.
8. We had Cobe a year later in January of 2000. We had Brooks in 2003 and Sadie in 2005.
9. I started teaching 7th grade Language Arts, Social Studies, and Computers to 7th graders at Creekside Middle School in August of 98.
10. In 2003-2004 school year, I was the Dean of Students at Creekside part-time while working on my master's thesis and practicum.
11. I received my master's degree from Grand Valley State University in Educational Leadership in 2004.
12. I moved over to Cityside Middle School in Aug. of 04 so I could teach part-time, and I still teach 7th grade there part-time to this day.
13. I love my family more than I could have ever imagined loving anyone. I have great parents, in-laws, husband and 3 kids.
14. I am blessed with many wonderful people as friends, co-workers, and church family members.
15. The only foods I hate are coconut, all nuts (except peanuts, cashews and pistachios),
cherries, tomato juice, coffee. I used to abhor bananas and tomatoes, but over the years can tolerate those now.
16. I absolutely love to read: fiction and magazines.
17. I love to do Sudoku, crossword puzzles, word jumbles, etc.
18. My favorite activities include walking and talking. (not necessarily at the same time)
19. My favorite new activity is blogging... can you tell?
20. I have a mom and a dad who both still live in NC- Lake Gaston more these days than Raleigh, but they do split their time between the two.
21. I have a brother (Brent) that lives in Santa Monica, CA, but is rarely in CA because he is ALWAYS on the go.
22. I have a brother (Jeff) who lives in Raleigh, NC as well and who is married to Michele and has a little boy, Miles. Jeff and Michele were actually in the same class in high school, but never dated until introduced by Jeff's best friend and Michele's cousin who are married to each other.
23. I have always wanted to be an editor if I ever give up teaching. I get a thrill out of finding mistakes in printed text. (I am a nerd.)
24. I have always wanted many, many kids and would love to adopt kids that no one else wants. For instance, kids who have AIDS. Ryan only wanted 2 kids, and now we have 3 and he never wants to adopt. He loves his 3 kids dearly, but I know I will never get him to agree to adoption.
25. My favorite color of car is navy blue and my favorite car that I have ever owned was a navy blue 240SX that my dad bought for me in college.
26. I am now very partial to my mini-van and love it. It feels like home away from home to me since I am constantly on the run. I feel like I could live in it if I had to.
27. I love to eat out, but we rarely do since it is so expensive. I am not a fast food fan at all. It grosses me out to think what goes on behind the counter of restaurants. I do not think all employees obey the signs "to wash their hands before returning to work" that are posted in bathrooms. :-)
28. I love Mexican food, pizza and all Italian food. I really like Chinese food as well. My favorite food to get at a "regular" restaurant would be a mushroom swiss burger. YUMMY!!!!
29. I am glad we picked the names we did for our kids. However, sometimes I wish we could have revolving names for our kids because I LOVE picking out names for kids. I have a list a mile long of names I still want to use. Hence the reason I want so many kids.
30. We have a cottage for sale and a house for sale, neither of which we can sell.
31. I am a person who has to be on time too (like Lynette). I agree with her that I would much rather be early to an event, appt. than to be the least bit late.
32. I am also a very organized person that can be uptight when I feel unorganized. I am getting better since having 3 kids and loosening up some. Or maybe it is my husband who is helping me with this since we are polar opposites when it comes to organization and schedule following, etc.
33. My husband has the best sense of humor that I know of. His brother Kyle runs a close second. Put the two of them together, and it is a non-stop comedy routine.
34. I love parties and social events, but I love alone, quiet time just as much.
35. I fear for the safety of my loved ones the most of all.
36. I have enjoyed gaining friendships and getting to know some people better through blogging.
37. Hmmm... coming up with 50 things about myself is harder than I thought! Can this count for one?
38. My favorite season of the year is summer. I love the weather and the freedom of no set schedule in summer. I also love early fall when there is a slight chill in the air, but not enough to freeze, just enough to put on sweatshirts and jeans and go to football games.
39. I love that fact that Sadie is attached to her dolly and blanket and that they comfort her. I don't like that she needs her "pie-poo" but we'll cross that bridge of getting rid of it when we need to. I love that Cobe is comforted by "Steve" his stuffed monkey. I think it is funny that Brooks has nothing that he needs for comfort.
40. I love listening to my 3 children in the next room wrestling with their dad. Such simple things make them the happiest. I pray that I can always remember that it is truly the simple things that bring happiness to us.
41. I have 9 cousins, all on my mom's side. My dad was an only child and my mom has a sister and 2 brothers.
42. My kids have 5 cousins on Ryan's side (soon to be 6) and one cousin on my side.
43. I have many childhood memories- one of my favorite being staying outside all day long playing in the creek (we called it Planet Rock) and playing outside until dark. We also put on a lot of "shows" with my 9 cousins at my grandparents house.
44. I sometimes wish I had had the wisdom that I do now as a teenager.
45. I understand I wouldn't be the person I am today if I had had that wisdom.
46. I love nature, being outside, but I love coming back inside to cool off and get away from the bugs.
47. My favorite show is Survivor. I could NEVER be on the show because I wouldn't last a day getting bit by mosquitos.
48. I have a load of laundry that needs folding in the dryer right now and usually do. I usually keep a load in the dryer and don't fold it until I need the dryer for another load.
49. I would throw a shirt away before having to iron it. Right Mom????? :-) I do NOT iron.
50. I can't believe I got to 50- but a perfect ending. I do not give up. Ever. I am a bit of a perfectionist and do not feel satisfied until I accomplish a task I set before me. I am not the type to start something and "get back to it later." Ryan on the other hand.... once again, we are polar opposites in that area.

So, I hope you learned something new about me. This was fun- I challenge you to do this if you have a blog so I can learn something about you.