Disney

"Walt, stop doodling and do your homework. If all you do is draw those cartoons, you'll never amount to anything in your life." -Mrs. Disney

I saw this posted on someone's Facebook page today and I love this. Can you imagine if Walt Disney would've never doodled or drawn cartoons?

Can't put it down?

I usually enjoy most of the books that I decide to read but every once in awhile I get one that I just can't put down. I am reading one of those right now. It's "Nineteen Minutes" by Jody Picoult. If I let myself, I'd probably stay up half the night reading it. I think I have about 100 pages left to go. It's really hard not to go sit on the couch for the rest of the day and finish it.

I feel a little guilty reading in the middle of the day for some reason. There is always other things that need to be done in the office or around the house.

Even though, I want to get to the end and find out what happens, I'm always a little bummed when the book is over. It's like I want to find out to the characters as they progress through their life. But I guess there's always the next book waiting for me to read it and get attached to that storyline....

All about me... 2012 version

This post was originally written when I was 31 so I will update and add to it....

I really try to learn something new everyday. Now I will share a few things about myself (one item for every year of age) so you can learn something new about me! (These are in somewhat random order....)

36 Things About Me (was 31)

1. I have been happily married for 13 years, together for 16.

2. We have two wonderful children, a boy and a girl.

3. I love to watch Nascar! (2012 update: but I hardly ever do because I don't want to waste a whole Sunday.)

4. Dale Earnhardt Jr is my favorite driver.

5. I have never had anything chemical done to my hair.

6. I had my belly button pierced about 6 months before I turned 30.

7. I had a very hard time accepting that I was turning 30.

8. I really like my house to be neat and tidy, but I hardly ever feel like it is.

9. I am a natural redhead.... curls are natural too!

10. I drive a Dodge 4x4 4-door truck and I like it! Can't imagine going back to a car!

11. I love red licorice (yes, I know it really isn't licorice) but I HATE black licorice!

12. I really miss the show "Friends" and love to watch re-runs.

13. I don't like nuts in my cookies or bread.... can't have the crunch with the soft.

14. Photography is my hobby. Someday maybe it will be something more.... (2012 update: photography has turned into more... a business. I miss the hobby part.)
15. I love to read. When I am in the middle of a book, I can't get anything done!

16. I never thought I was a creative person until I started scrapbooking.

17. My truck has a manual transmission (which I like) .... never had an automatic. (2012 update: now we also have a Tahoe that's an automatic. Love it for trips!!)

18. I am near-sighted in one eye, and far-sighted in the other.

19. I had braces on my teeth three different times (the third set was free because they screwed up).

20. I finally got my braces off during my junior year in high school.

21. I do not know how to operate a lawn mower. (2012 update: I know how to run a push mower, but not a riding mower.)

22. I used to hate the color pink, until I had a baby girl. (I am wearing a pink sweatshirt right now).

23. I have one sister, who has become one of my best friends.

24. When I wake up in the morning, I don't want anyone to talk to me until I have woken up, had a shower, and at least one cup of coffee.

25. I love coffee... with some kind of yummy flavored creamer. Or a latte.

26. Shopping cheers me up. Not sure if that's a good thing or not. Probably not.

27. My husband and I are self-employed and I can't imagine working for anyone else, ever again.

28. I love sushi... yes, even the raw fish kind.

29. I really love steak.... that's a good thing since my husband and I operate a beef ranch.

30. I can't stand to have my nails filed. The sound drives me crazy. (2012 update: about 9 months ago I started getting my nails done every 2 weeks. Still don't love the sound, but I can deal with it).

31. I have a great life. I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful family and awesome friends.
32. I love to look at the pictures of when my kids were babies. And no that doesn't make me want another one.
33. I am constantly amazed about how I can learn things about myself. You would think I would know myself better by now. ;-)
34. I am one of the most loyal people I know.... sometimes to my own detriment.
35. I get US Magazine weekly. I don't watch soap operas or other trash. The magazine is my only dose of trash.
36. I love the quote, "Obstacles are opportunities in disguise."

Now you know a little more about me.... Lots of random things, yes, but they are what makes me who I am.

This makes me...

laugh! Abigail doesn't have any teeth and J.T. looks like he ate a lemon.... From May 2007

from 2004

I love looking back at the kids' pictures from when they were little... Spring 2004

Seems like so long ago....

from July 2005.... Hannah, Connor, J.T., and Abigail

J.T. and I

A couple nights ago, J.T. and I were sitting on the couch together cuddling (which he loves to do), and here's how the conversation went:

Me: Pretty soon, you will be too big to cuddle with me. (I meant he will get older and won't want to cuddle with his mom).

J.T.: I hope not. And we can always just get a bigger couch....

Awwww, one of those "melt your heart" Mommy moments for sure!

22 of Me

I Am: a very loyal friend.
I Want: to feel successful as a businesswoman.
I Have: the most awesome husband ever!
I Wish: I was more physically coordinated.
I Fear: failure. And sometimes success.
I Hear: nothing because I am hiding in the office.
I Search: for my true purpose on this earth.
I Wonder: what my kids will be when they grow up.
I Regret: not much. I'd rather learn from a mistake than regret it.
I Love: having the office to myself so I can enjoy the quiet and get something done.
I Always: have a cup of coffee first thing in the morning.
I Usually: take a little time for myself each day. (priceless!)
I Am Not: a morning person.
I Dance: if I've had a couple beverages.
I Sing: ummm really never.
I Never: sing in the shower.
I Rarely: leave the house in sweat pants. (and even then, only cute yoga pants!)
I Cry: rarely. And if I do, its usually while reading a book.
I Am Not Always: open-minded, but I'm trying to get better.
I’m Confused: why it's so hard to get motivated to exercise.
I Need: to take more pictures for fun.
I Should: get outside and take a walk.

What are your 22?

First picture

This is the first photo I ever took with my first digital camera in July 2002. Isn't she cute?

Thought for the day

"I'm not the kind of person who just slops around in sweatpants. I like to feel a little more together. You never know who you're going to see out there." ~ Scarlett Johansson

I love this!

Best friend

Best friend is someone who knows all about you and loves you anyway.
- Elbert Hubbard

Isn't that the truth? My bestie and I have been through a lot and we still love each other!

Winter favorites

Two of my favorite winter pictures of the kids.... taken in January 2004...

Beautiful bride...

Waiting to see her groom....


Love the spot we had for pre-wedding pictures....

Things that make me happy

In no particular order...

*when Andy kisses me on the forehead

*when JT wants to cuddle with me on the couch

*when Abigail wants multiple hugs when I tuck her in at night

*that my bestie knows what to say to make me feel better

*shopping for jeans, even if I don't buy any

*seeing my adorable nieces

*when my parents say "I love you" at the end of a phone conversation

*a clean house

*getting an out-of-the-blue text from a friend

*watching reruns of "Friends"

*doing a ride-along with my BFF

*watching "Sweet Home Alabama", "Pretty Woman", or "Dirty Dancing"

*getting a massage

*eating at the Melting Pot

*the feeling after a long walk or good workout

*taking a nap on the couch in the middle of the afternoon

Life

Life is too short, grudges are a waste of perfect happiness, laugh when you can, apologize when you should and let go of what you can't change.

~unknown

Thought for the day

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

-1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Just one...

from the New Years Eve wedding....

Random cell phone pictures- 2011

Here's a slideshow of some random pictures from my cell phone...