Pay it forward

My friends are playing this great game and I thought it would be fun to join. Here's how it works:

"The Pay It Forward Exchange is based on the concept of the movie "Pay it forward". I will send a hand made gift to the first three people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join the PIF exchange. All the gifts will be made and posted out sometime within the next month (I changed that from "year". A year is too long. But it would make the next sentence make more sense). How exciting to not know when your surprise package will arrive! What you need to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. This Exchange is only open to those with active websites or blogs. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PROMISE TO POST THIS SAME 'PAY IT FORWARD' MESSAGE ONTO YOUR BLOG, WHICH MUST BE ACTIVE IN ORDER TO PLAY. YOU WILL PAY IT FORWARD TO THREE PEOPLE WHO COMMENT ON YOUR BLOG. I'd love for you to join me! Will you? Other comments are welcome, but only the first three will be my Pay It Forward recipients."

101

1. I like to floss. I think my teeth look better after I floss.
2. I've always wanted to be a dentist. But I think I will be a hygienist instead so I can work part time and be home with my girls more.

3. I have a love hate relationship with cooking.
4. I like to cook elaborate meals, but I hate making a mess.
5. So instead, I like to cook one dish meals that are super fast.
6. Actually, let me change that... I don't like to cook them, that's just what I end up doing.
7. I love going to school.
8. But sometimes I feel guilty about taking time to myself.
9. I feel like I should want to stay home.
10. But I feel like I am a better mom when I am gone a few times a week.
11. I hate to fold laundry.
12. I hate putting away the folded laundry even more.
13. I love to vacuum.
14. I especially like to vacuum with bagless vacuums because I like to see all the dirt it picks up.
15. I think eyeballs look creepy.

16. I like feet.
17. I don't like the middle of Oreos.
18. My dad has two tatoos. Once, when I was little, I asked him why he got them. He told me that someone snuck into his house in the middle of the night and tatooed him. I was so scared that I was going to wake up one morning with tatoos.
19. I love to read blogs.
20. I wish I updated my blog more often so that I have it to read later.
21. But I don't because I worry about boring my readers.
22. I'm sure you're probably bored right now.
23. I don't like scary movies.
24. Sean has to set his alarm for a palindrome.
25. I have to do it now, too.
26. I don't water plants.
27. I feel bad about this.
28. I didn't like the song "Frosty the Snowman" when I was little because I felt bad that he melted.
29. I am super competitive.
30. I am even competitive with myself.
31. I want to be instantly good at whatever I try or I don't really want to do it anymore.
32. I am pariod about being on time.
33. I always like to arrive 15 minutes early.
34. Sean thinks this is weird.
35. He calls it "April Time"
36. Sometimes when I tell him the time he will ask me, "Is that real time or April Time?"
37. I like to snooze. Before I got married I would sometimes snooze for an hour. Sean broke me of that habit, now I usually only hit the button twice.
38. I am so glad that I have two girls.
39. I am even more glad that they seem to be becoming friends.
40. I always wanted a sister.
41. I would have preferred an older sister, but I would have enjoyed a younger sister as well.
42. I also wanted an older brother.
43. But I am glad I have two younger brothers and wouldn't trade them for sister or an older brother.
44. I'm cheap. I have a hard time buying any clothes for me that cost more than $10.
45. I like to plan things.
46. I love to use ellipses...
47. But it drives Sean crazy...
48. But sometimes I do it anyway...
49. Because I just can't help it...
50. For the longest time I didn't want to grow any taller because I liked that song, "Five foot two, eyes of blue, but oh what those five feet can do, has anyone seen my gal"
51. But once I hit 5'3" I wanted to be taller because I no longer fit the song.
52. Now I would like to be 5'5" or 5'7"
53. But not 5'6"
54. My favorite word is apoptosis.
55. When I was little I didn't like odd numbers.

56. I don't like swimming.
57. When I was little I loved swimming, but my mom hated it.
58. I thought she was weird.
59. My mom is my greatest role model... I want to be just like her when I grow up...
60. I hope my daughters feel that Way about me someday.
61. I never wanted to be a doctor when I was growing up... for some reason I think that is weird, eventhough I'm sure there are lots of people who never wanted to be doctors.
62. I still don't want to be a doctor...
63. But I think going to medical school would be fun.
64. If I had an unlimited bank account and didn't have to ever worry about money, I would probably spend the rest of my life in school.
65. First I would go to dental school, then cosmetology school, the medical school...
66. I might be finished after that...
67. Nevermind, I would also go to chiropractic school... I think I would go there before medical school.
68. I probably wouldn't get a deree in any of these fields - taking boards would be too stressful. I would just go to learn for fun.
69. In 10th grade I dissected a frog. I couldn't eat macaroni and cheese for years after that because I thought it looked like the fat in the frog.

70. I have kissed the Stanley Cup. I snuck into a party when the Avalanche won their second Cup.
71. I'm jealous of my brother because he has no debt. I think he is one of the most considerate people I know. It amazes me how thoughtful and caring he is about everyone and everything. I wish he was more confidant and realized how awesome he is.
72. My other brother is a little crazy...
73. I am envious at how social he is - I think that is a great asset in life and can often get your further than any degree. He is also super artistic and creative.
74. I think my dad is the nicest person I know.
75. I was a waitress for a few years and now very rarely will tip less than 20%.
76. I miss Nebraska.
77. Sometimes I call it Ber-Naska... I'm not sure why.
78. I hope that my girls will have to share a bedroom at some point in their childhood.
79. I think sharing rooms is good for kids.
80. I remember enjoying sharing a room with my brother.
81. I wonder if my mom remembers it as fondly?
82. I wonder if my brother does?

83. I think probably the best part about sharing a room is bunkbeds.
84. I don't know how any biologist could not believe in God - our bodies are so amazingly complex there is no way it could all happen due to chance.
85. I don't like this keyboard.
86. I do believe in evolution, I don't know how you couldn't. But believe God helps direct it.
87. I need a lot of sleep.
88. Nine hours a night would be perfect.
89. I think I need this much because I force myself to sleep very lightly so that I will wake up if I hear the girls.
90. It drives me crazy when people can't seem to park between the lines and take up two spaces.
91. It also drives me crazy when people don't pull over for sirens.
92. I wish I used our camcorder more often.
93. I really like the way my cursive looks (I wrote this whole list by hand first) - I wish you could see it, it is beautiful.
94. I am extremely shy.
95. I worry that my girls will be shy as well.
96. I wish I lived closer to family.
97. I am a chronic project starter. I always have grand plans for big projects, but they never seem to get finished before I start another project.

98. I know how to drive a scooter.
99. That doesn't sound as impressive as I think it is.
100. How about this? I know how to drive an automatic motorcycle. That is pretty much what it is, a motorcycle without a clutch.
101. I always wear a helmet.

I love this!

This is Addie and Charlotte's favorite thing to do right now. They walk around the house holding hands. Addie will either sing and sort of skip, or she will have a mission for them... they'll go to the "store" (her room), the "library" (Charlotte's room), or the "post office" (the dining room). Charlotte just soaks it up, she loves getting any sort of attention from her sister. I love when they play together.


"Whoa! Slow down, my legs are short!"

"Oh, you fell down? Let me drag you around the room instead."

More conversations with a two year old. . .

Let's file this one under "be careful what you ask for," which is a parenting file that will be forever expanding. April and I, thanks to our friends the Ortizs, managed to sneak away for a date. Upon picking up Addie and Charlotte, the following conversation ensued on the drive home:

Addie: Where are [did] Momma and Dada going [go]?
Me: Mom and Dad had fun tonight on -
Addie: No you didn't! You didn't have fun tonight.
Me: Yes we did. Mom and Dad went on a date. A date is when you go and do something fun with someone you love, like when I take you to the bookstore - that's an Addie Dada date. Dates are fun, huh?
Addie: Yeah.
Me: But, are you ever going to date a boy?
Addie (immediately): No, I'm not gonna date a boy.
(There is silence in the car for the better part of a minute. Little did I knew Addie was contemplating the conversation)
Addie: I'm gonna date TWO boys.

When the chuckling subsided, Addie proceeded to tell us what she did at the Ortizs'. When it came to dinner, she told us about eating a grilled cheese sandwhich (which she pronounces "girl" cheese sandwhich) and produced this great line with much pomp and pride:
"I ate girl [grilled] cheese sandwhiches because I'm a girl!"

P.S.

Enjoy our new song. We did it because we hate these automatic music players. Grrrr...

Okay, if you missed it, it was a Rick Roll. But even that annoyed me, so I took it down.

HO HO HO!

Can you believe it?

It is snowing! And it is actually sticking to cars and roofs! Too bad both of the girls are asleep so they won't get to see it. These pictures make it look much more dramatic than it actually is. There isn't even a 1/8 of an inch and it isn't sticking to the grass, so it really doesn't even count as snow in most other parts of the country. But it is still exciting for Houston so I thought it deserved a post.

Forts are fun

Especially when you have two cats to play with you.

Want free camping stuff?

I found a great website that enrolls people in beta testing of camping equipment. I haven't received any of the stuff yet, but it looks promising. Check it out:

http://www.outpacker.com

A conversation with a 2-year old

Sean: I bought Charlotte at the store for thirty dollars.

Addie: No you didn’t! Charlotte came from Mommy’s tummy!

Sean: I bought you at the store for thirty dollars!

Addie: No! You didn’t buy me at the store!!!

Sean: Where did you come from?

Addie: I came from Daddy’s tummy!

sad day

We had a really tough morning, everyone woke up on the wrong side of the bed, sharing was hard, and both girls wanted all of my attention all of the time. To make matters worse, Addie decided that she wasn't going to fall asleep and Charlotte decided to wake up 10 minutes after I put Addie in her room for her attepted nap. So no break for me.

After "nap" time we went outside to play. All of our morning troubles seemed to be a thing of the past. Everyone was happy. And then Addie heard the ice cream truck.

Addie: "Mom, do we have enough money for ice cream?"

I usually tell her we don't have enough money when she asks, but today she was so cute and I wanted to keep the happy mood, so I started to consider it. She obviously caught me hesitation because she got a HUGE smile on her face.

Addie: "We have money inside! It's in your closet!"

Okay, I'll cave. We run inside, grab some money and race back outside to find the ice cream truck. Addie jumps on her bike and races to the end of the block as fast as her little legs could take her. But it was gone. We were too slow.

She doesn't seem too traumatized about it, we had some string cheese when we got back home. Maybe Daddy will bring some ice cream home.

Okay, I admit it. I'm a Texan.

Sean would tell you that it happened a long time ago, but I would have argued that I still had some thick-Northern blood running through me. For the past two years I have laughed at these Texans who bundle up their babies the moment the temperature drops below 80. My first winter here I was scolded on several occasions for not dressing Adeline properly, at the same time, I was wearing a skirt and short sleeves. I don't think I wore a jacket that entire winter, and everyone kept saying how it was an unusually cold winter. For one week in November it did get chilly, the highs were in the upper 40s. On Friday that week we decided it was finally cold enough to turn on the heater. But when we turned it on it didn't work. We were still in our apartment and it was after the office had closed for the weekend, so the maintenance crew was gone. No problem. We tossed on an extra layer and put a space heater in Addie's room at night. When I called on Monday to let them know about the heater they seemed shocked that we were able to survive 3 days without a heater. I was informed that if this were ever to happen again that I should immediately call the emergency line. Right-o. I hardly consider 40 degrees an emergency, but okay.

Anyway, that was the old, April Conaway. Today it was 55 degrees and I wanted to take the girls to the park. I dressed them in pants and long sleeves (the thickest I could find). I put on their heavy coats. Then I started to look for hats and was shocked that we didn't have any winter hats. Okay, I guess they'll be fine, their coats have hats that they can wear on our bike ride, they'll survive without hats at the park. But I did put hats on a mental list of things to buy.

In my defense, I only wore a sweatshirt and not a coat. Do I get points for that?