Okay so I saw this on a friend's blog and thought it was cute. It's a list of 100 things you may or may not have done. The bolded ones are the ones I have done. What have YOU done?
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own
November 26, 2008
November 21, 2008
Kids and sleeping in new places
Okay I need some advice. I love the holidays. I love visiting family and friends. I love being in new places and getting some new scenery around me. There is one catch. Since having kids, I immediately start to stress out about the sleeping arrangements of the place we are going. My kids have always been pretty great sleepers but definitely sleep better when they are A) alone...and B) are in a room with the door closed. The door closed seems to say to them for the most part (of course my five year old wants it cracked open) that it's time to settle down and go to sleep. They do okay with a brother with them but there is definitely more talking and jumping around. While they all do have their own rooms at home I know that this isn't something that can happen when we travel. What I am trying to figure out is what to do to make traveling with the kids a better experience because the lack of sleep starts to have a downward spiral effect and everyone ends up very grouchy. We usually bring comfort items from home like their pillow and a stuffed animal and that helps some but I'm wondering if anyone out there has the same problem and has figured out a magic way to do this.
We are traveling for Thanksgiving and while I'm totally excited to see the family, I'm already nervous about the sleeping arrangements because this will be the first time that my 2year old won't be sleeping in some sort of crib. There is no bed for him or the other two kids so they will all be on the floor, most likely in an open living room. I'm also afraid that he will wake up in the middle of the night without me knowing and end up breaking something of theirs.
I have thought of making a little bed next to our bed so I could keep on I on him (and that is probably what I will do) but I'm just afraid that the noise of us in the room will wake him up. I sleep horribly when I'm trying to sleep without moving so I don't wake a sleeping baby.
The sad thing is, all the stress of worrying about this really does end up ruining the holiday trip for me. We are planning a trip in April to get together with all my siblings, spouses and their kids in one big lodge and I have already started thinking about how much my kids won't sleep there.
I NEED A NEW SYSTEM!! HELP!! I know you are all out there with your kids sleeping like angels no matter where you are so the least you can do is give me your secrets!
We are traveling for Thanksgiving and while I'm totally excited to see the family, I'm already nervous about the sleeping arrangements because this will be the first time that my 2year old won't be sleeping in some sort of crib. There is no bed for him or the other two kids so they will all be on the floor, most likely in an open living room. I'm also afraid that he will wake up in the middle of the night without me knowing and end up breaking something of theirs.
I have thought of making a little bed next to our bed so I could keep on I on him (and that is probably what I will do) but I'm just afraid that the noise of us in the room will wake him up. I sleep horribly when I'm trying to sleep without moving so I don't wake a sleeping baby.
The sad thing is, all the stress of worrying about this really does end up ruining the holiday trip for me. We are planning a trip in April to get together with all my siblings, spouses and their kids in one big lodge and I have already started thinking about how much my kids won't sleep there.
I NEED A NEW SYSTEM!! HELP!! I know you are all out there with your kids sleeping like angels no matter where you are so the least you can do is give me your secrets!
November 10, 2008
Potty Triumph!!
C is potty trained now. He is a little over 2 1/2 years old. He is my third boy and I honestly figured that it would be one of those things that because he saw his brothers go potty and wanted to be like them that he would just kind of pick it up. At his 2 year old checkup the doctor mentioned just introducing it to him every now and then. I started doing things like putting him on the potty when I was cleaning the rest of the bathroom. I figured with all that time he would have to end up going.....nope never did. I asked if he wanted to try his brother's big boy underwear on thinking the cool pictures would get him excited. Nope ...had absolutely no interest in this. I was stunned because even if his brothers weren't great at going to the potty at this stage they always had an interest in it. This is also the kid that just barely moved into a big boy bed. He didn't climb out. I'm not sure he ever would have. He might have stayed there until junior high. I just figured it was about time.
A couple of weeks ago I figured we had the bed milestone behind us so we might as well move on to the whole potty training fun. It was time to get serious and make it happen.
I know he absolutely LOVES Thomas the train. I mentioned to him that they might have some Thomas underwear at Target. He seemed happy about that idea so we went to pick it out and thankfully they did have some. We bought some, washed them and put them on. This is the amazing part. From that time he has had 3 accidents. That is it. Both day and night....that is it. Even when he had to go the bathroom and we were in the kiss and ride line and couldn't go to the potty for another 10 minutes...he held it. I have no idea how this has happened. We have driven 2 hours at a time and he hasn't had ANY accidents or even had to go potty.
This is the other thing. I have never had to give him any kind of prize for staying dry. He just does it and that is that. I must say it is a VERY nice surprise for a mom who was convinced that this child just may stay in diapers until high school and be completely happy doing so.
This is my question though.....what was different this time? Was it just the kid that made the difference or was it something I did? With my other boys they seemed interested from the beginning and they wanted to keep dry but continually had accidents here and there for months before success even with potty prizes. SO....should I have waited with the other boys until they were past 2 1/2 years old and they would have done it easier? Is that the golden ticket because if it is I wish someone would have told me and I could have skipped the six months of accidents with the other two.
On a funny side note: When C does have to go potty he always says "It's coming!!" and then gets all excited when he goes and yells " I got it in the hole!"
Yea for my little champion of the potty!!
A couple of weeks ago I figured we had the bed milestone behind us so we might as well move on to the whole potty training fun. It was time to get serious and make it happen.
I know he absolutely LOVES Thomas the train. I mentioned to him that they might have some Thomas underwear at Target. He seemed happy about that idea so we went to pick it out and thankfully they did have some. We bought some, washed them and put them on. This is the amazing part. From that time he has had 3 accidents. That is it. Both day and night....that is it. Even when he had to go the bathroom and we were in the kiss and ride line and couldn't go to the potty for another 10 minutes...he held it. I have no idea how this has happened. We have driven 2 hours at a time and he hasn't had ANY accidents or even had to go potty.
This is the other thing. I have never had to give him any kind of prize for staying dry. He just does it and that is that. I must say it is a VERY nice surprise for a mom who was convinced that this child just may stay in diapers until high school and be completely happy doing so.
This is my question though.....what was different this time? Was it just the kid that made the difference or was it something I did? With my other boys they seemed interested from the beginning and they wanted to keep dry but continually had accidents here and there for months before success even with potty prizes. SO....should I have waited with the other boys until they were past 2 1/2 years old and they would have done it easier? Is that the golden ticket because if it is I wish someone would have told me and I could have skipped the six months of accidents with the other two.
On a funny side note: When C does have to go potty he always says "It's coming!!" and then gets all excited when he goes and yells " I got it in the hole!"
Yea for my little champion of the potty!!
November 5, 2008
Not my favorite day
I have been mad, sad, all kinds of emotions today at the outcome of the election. I know not everyone agrees with that. Many are celebrating a victory. I'm looking to move to New Zealand.
My sister forwarded what her husband Adam wrote about how he felt. I liked it and thought I would pass it on.....
As you all know, I have been passionate in my opposition to Barack
Obama. And I am honestly stunned that he won the election for
President. A man who has never led a scout troop, let alone a
military and a nation is our new commander-in-chief. A man who has
spent his life at the feet of people who believe America is the
source, rather than the solution, to the ills of this world is going
to determine our foreign policy over the next 4 years.
The radical associations, lack of judgement, marxist tendencies and
utter inexperience are not off the table. They are still very real
issues that we will have to watch when it comes to who this man
chooses as his cabinet and advisors. Indeed, his first appointment,
Raum Emanuel as Chief of Staff is not encouraging. The IL congressmen
is a Chicago machine thug. A man well versed in coercion and
intimidation. This is the same man that advised Bill Clinton during
his presidency. This is the same man that said Republicans can go
"screw themselves. "
Just words. Just Speeches.
However, there are reasons to be optimistic. And they have nothing to
do with the silly notion that Obama will govern as a "centrist". He
has spent his life under the influence of extreme leftist ideals. He
is not going to denounce those ideals now that he is in a position to,
as he said so often "fundamentally change America".
Rather, our optimism should come from the idea that conservatism will
once again define itself, and rise from the ashes. 1980 came only
after Carter ran the country far to the Left. Much further than the
Nation ever wanted. I still believe that the country wants limited
government, strong military, and a respect for religious principles.
I still believe a Republican can win 400+ electoral votes and paint
the Nation red once again.
There was simply not enough separation between John McCain and Barack
Obama when it came to several key issues. Obama, thanks to the filter
of the media, was able to get away with sounding conservative. How
many times did Obama say "tax cuts for 95% of the American people"?
Every speech. Every day. And anyone who bothered to look into what
he meant realized it was a complete impossibility. But McCain was
saying the same thing, more or less. Tax credits, tax breaks, etc.
To the man who can't spell Obama or McCain, that all sounds the same.
And if the candidates sound the same on the issues, then the vote will
get cast for the cool, young, slick, silver tongued guy.
McCain was powerless to separate himself from Obama. The media played
a part in this, but it was also the fact that McCain is not a
conservative.
McCain also was too worried about offending radicals and terrorists.
He was terrified of being labeled a racist. He ran a politically
correct campaign that got trounced by a man who relentlessly attacked
American conservative ideals, using words like change and hope and
spread the wealth.
We have a great opportunity to sharpen what it means to be
conservative. The contrasts are sharp. And over the next 4 years we
must vocalize those differences. The United States is a center-right
nation. We ought to take great comfort from the passing of Prop. 8.
in California. In fact, African Americans voted in favor of Prop 8 by
an incredible 70%. Those are the same people that voted FOR Obama.
Also remember, that CA was carried easily by Obama overall. Which
means that many people who voted yes on 8 voted for Obama. This is
illogical. But points to the notion that at heart, Americans in even
the most liberal of states are holding to conservative ideals.
So let's do what Joe Biden says, and "gird our loins". It's time to
fight for the rebirth of good solid conservatism!
I also want to say that John McCain, a man I opposed during the
primary elections as much as I opposed Obama during the general
election is a man I have learned to admire and respect. There is no
posturing or posing with John McCain. He serves not for political
gain or capital, but because he loves the Nation. The political
climate was absolutely toxic for any Republican this year. The Obama
Swoon was unprecedented. Obama picked a mouthy, living corpse for a
running mate, and he still won. But McCain was classy and positive.
He stayed optimistic and he fought hard down the the last minute. His
choice of Sarah Palin was brilliant. And though the ticket lost,
Palin secured a victory for conservatives everywhere when her mere
presence revealed the hatred, bile and disgust the Lefty's have for
conservative women who value life and liberty. In their outrage at
Palin they exposed their true selves. And now we know what we are up
against. Now we know the deep hatred for pro life and pro marriage
candidates. And we know how to defeat them. Their hand has been
shown. All we have to do now is counter.
Going forward I do not know who will lead us out of the wilderness.
It could be Palin or Romney or Jindal. It might be all of these three
and more. It might be nobody we have heard of yet.
Remember, 56 million people voted for McCain. In a hostile
environment, with a president who has been unjustly blamed for every
wrong in the history of the world, and during a financial crisis that
the media has pinned on the Republicans, 56 million people still voted
for McCain. It wasn't enough.
But it is a good start.
-Adam-
My sister forwarded what her husband Adam wrote about how he felt. I liked it and thought I would pass it on.....
As you all know, I have been passionate in my opposition to Barack
Obama. And I am honestly stunned that he won the election for
President. A man who has never led a scout troop, let alone a
military and a nation is our new commander-in-chief. A man who has
spent his life at the feet of people who believe America is the
source, rather than the solution, to the ills of this world is going
to determine our foreign policy over the next 4 years.
The radical associations, lack of judgement, marxist tendencies and
utter inexperience are not off the table. They are still very real
issues that we will have to watch when it comes to who this man
chooses as his cabinet and advisors. Indeed, his first appointment,
Raum Emanuel as Chief of Staff is not encouraging. The IL congressmen
is a Chicago machine thug. A man well versed in coercion and
intimidation. This is the same man that advised Bill Clinton during
his presidency. This is the same man that said Republicans can go
"screw themselves. "
Just words. Just Speeches.
However, there are reasons to be optimistic. And they have nothing to
do with the silly notion that Obama will govern as a "centrist". He
has spent his life under the influence of extreme leftist ideals. He
is not going to denounce those ideals now that he is in a position to,
as he said so often "fundamentally change America".
Rather, our optimism should come from the idea that conservatism will
once again define itself, and rise from the ashes. 1980 came only
after Carter ran the country far to the Left. Much further than the
Nation ever wanted. I still believe that the country wants limited
government, strong military, and a respect for religious principles.
I still believe a Republican can win 400+ electoral votes and paint
the Nation red once again.
There was simply not enough separation between John McCain and Barack
Obama when it came to several key issues. Obama, thanks to the filter
of the media, was able to get away with sounding conservative. How
many times did Obama say "tax cuts for 95% of the American people"?
Every speech. Every day. And anyone who bothered to look into what
he meant realized it was a complete impossibility. But McCain was
saying the same thing, more or less. Tax credits, tax breaks, etc.
To the man who can't spell Obama or McCain, that all sounds the same.
And if the candidates sound the same on the issues, then the vote will
get cast for the cool, young, slick, silver tongued guy.
McCain was powerless to separate himself from Obama. The media played
a part in this, but it was also the fact that McCain is not a
conservative.
McCain also was too worried about offending radicals and terrorists.
He was terrified of being labeled a racist. He ran a politically
correct campaign that got trounced by a man who relentlessly attacked
American conservative ideals, using words like change and hope and
spread the wealth.
We have a great opportunity to sharpen what it means to be
conservative. The contrasts are sharp. And over the next 4 years we
must vocalize those differences. The United States is a center-right
nation. We ought to take great comfort from the passing of Prop. 8.
in California. In fact, African Americans voted in favor of Prop 8 by
an incredible 70%. Those are the same people that voted FOR Obama.
Also remember, that CA was carried easily by Obama overall. Which
means that many people who voted yes on 8 voted for Obama. This is
illogical. But points to the notion that at heart, Americans in even
the most liberal of states are holding to conservative ideals.
So let's do what Joe Biden says, and "gird our loins". It's time to
fight for the rebirth of good solid conservatism!
I also want to say that John McCain, a man I opposed during the
primary elections as much as I opposed Obama during the general
election is a man I have learned to admire and respect. There is no
posturing or posing with John McCain. He serves not for political
gain or capital, but because he loves the Nation. The political
climate was absolutely toxic for any Republican this year. The Obama
Swoon was unprecedented. Obama picked a mouthy, living corpse for a
running mate, and he still won. But McCain was classy and positive.
He stayed optimistic and he fought hard down the the last minute. His
choice of Sarah Palin was brilliant. And though the ticket lost,
Palin secured a victory for conservatives everywhere when her mere
presence revealed the hatred, bile and disgust the Lefty's have for
conservative women who value life and liberty. In their outrage at
Palin they exposed their true selves. And now we know what we are up
against. Now we know the deep hatred for pro life and pro marriage
candidates. And we know how to defeat them. Their hand has been
shown. All we have to do now is counter.
Going forward I do not know who will lead us out of the wilderness.
It could be Palin or Romney or Jindal. It might be all of these three
and more. It might be nobody we have heard of yet.
Remember, 56 million people voted for McCain. In a hostile
environment, with a president who has been unjustly blamed for every
wrong in the history of the world, and during a financial crisis that
the media has pinned on the Republicans, 56 million people still voted
for McCain. It wasn't enough.
But it is a good start.
-Adam-
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