Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Happy Post-Day to Me!

It's my 100th post!! Enjoy finding out 100 (hopefully) interesting facts about me. If you don't want to know 100 things about me, then don't read this post!

1. My dad had the honor of naming me.

2. My mom left my dad and I when I was about a year old.

3. My dad remarried just before I turned three.

4. My stepmom already had two kids of her own, Kelly and Jodi, my step-sisters.

5. Kelly is two months younger than me while Jodi is two years younger than me.

6. My dad and stepmom had a child together, Shar, my half-sister.

7. Shar is 7 1/2 years younger than me.

8. My biological mom remarried and had two boys, Ikaika and Keola.

9. My half-brothers are of Hawaiian descent, live in Washington, and attend high school and junior high school.

10. I've only met my half-brothers three times.

11. My biological mom and I do not regularly keep in contact. However, my biological grandma (her mom) and I have stayed in constant contact. How crazy is that?!

12. My dad and stepmom divorced about five years ago. (Not soon enough but THANK GOODNESS!)

13. My stepmom and I did NOT get along. EVER!!!

14. I have a VERY close relationship with my dad. We talk about (almost) everything!

15. I'm a neat freak and perfectionist.

16. I can also be somewhat of a slob!

17. I am a shopaholic!!

18. I LOVE to read.

19. I like to read really good books more than once.

20. I seriously think I'm addicted to my lap top, the internet, and blogging! NO JOKE!! (Intervention anyone?)

21. I love watching reality TV shows.

22. For years, my all-time favorite movie was Dirty Dancing.

23. Currently, my all-time favorite movie is How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

24. I like playing board games and am VERY competitive.

25. When I was 12 or 13, while on my bike, I got hit by a car while riding on a highway. (Totally my fault.) Luckily the car had slowed down considerably and only my tire got hit and bent.

26. In junior high, I was a gymnast. However, after 3 years I quit because I was too scared to do flips! (Oh, believe me. I tried and it wasn't pretty!) I became the gymnastics student manager because I really enjoyed gymnastics.

27. I was a cheerleader all four years of high school. I cheered for girls' basketball, boys' basketball, and football. I still LOVE cheerleading.

28. My first vehicle was a white Ford Tempo with red interior.

29. One night in high school I didn't get home until 3:30 am!! Much to my dismay, my parents were awake when I got home. They had been out driving around looking for me and calling my friends! (How embarrassing!!)

30. I received an under-age citation when I was 16. I was sentenced to 90 days probation but was released after 40 days for good behavior.

31. I played the flute 5th - 12th grade. I also played the piano and I still can. (Not great but pretty darn good!)

32. I worked in a small town DQ-type establishment for seven summers!

33. I graduated from high school with a class of 41 students - one of the biggest in a LONG time in our small town of 1200 people.

34. My high school GPA was 3.76. (I rarely studied.)

35. I attended one year of college immediately following high school.

36. I had LOTS of fun during this first year of college and enjoyed the freedom from my parents (who were VERY strict).

37. I received a 2.53 GPA in my first year of college. YIKES!!

38. My second vehicle was a light blue stick-shift Corsica with only an AM radio. (It appears I went backwards - from an automatic to a stick and from an AM/FM radio to an AM radio. But my Tempo had a leak in the radiator, LOTS of miles, and was older. I learned how to drive a stick and to LOVE the oldies!)

39. I took Spanish classes in high school and college.

40. I got pregnant during my first year of college.

41. I gained 45 pounds during my first pregnancy.

42. Tanner was born October 12.

43. Three months later I was pregnant again.

44. Dean's mom realized I was pregnant before Dean & I did.

45. I gained 40 pounds during my second pregnancy. (I had lost 40 of the 45 pounds from my first pregnancy only to regain it all again so soon!)

46. Hayley was born October 23.

47. My birthday is October 19.

48. Dean's birthday is October 27.

49. Dean proposed to me a month before Tanner was born.

50. Dean and I were married when Tanner was 7 months old and I was about 5 months pregnant with Hayley. (Our wedding was originally planned for June or July and I had already bought my dress when we found out I was pregnant with Hayley.)

51. So we did what any normal person would do, we moved our wedding up to May 18th so I could fit into my dress!

52. We did not have a good wedding for MANY reasons. Therefore, we rarely discuss it as it does NOT bring fond memories.

53. Eight years after leaving college, I went back to college to finish my degree.

54. I was hired as the Cheerleading Coach for the university when I went back to college.

55. Rather than the traditional four-year degree, I received a five-year degree.

56. I graduated with a BS in Professional Accountancy and BBA in Finance.

57. I have at least 150 college credits so I can now sit for the Certified Public Accountant exam. (This is a goal of mine, however, I no longer want to be a CPA. I'd still like to take the exam being I attended the extra year of school and because I believe in achieving my goals. Plus, having the certification is bargaining power in the career world. It's about $800 to take the exam and only about 30% of people pass it the first time!)

58. My GPA during my last four years of college was 3.92. This included many semesters of 4.0. Being my classes from my first year of college transferred, so did my GPA of 2.53. Therefore, my overall GPA ended up being only 3.65. (Good but still disappointing.)

59. My third vehicle was a white Dodge Grand Caravan. It was GREAT for two very young children. Once they got older, I decided I'd rather have a "chic" vehicle instead of a "mom" vehicle.

60. My fourth and current vehicle is a silver Ford Explorer with leather seats. (We bought this brand new and it's the first brand new vehicle for both of us.)

61. Dean and I are total opposites! It keeps life interesting, that's for sure!!

62. My hubby has a twin brother. Dean is 6'2" and has blonde hair and blue eyes. Dan is 5'10" and has brown hair and brown eyes. (I'll never get them mixed up!)

63. Dean is Catholic while I am Lutheran and our kids are being raised Lutheran.

64. I've lived in five cities, one of them twice, and two states.

65. I've already bought four homes in my lifetime! (We're already making plans for our fifth home which we are hoping to build within five years.)

66. I've never lived alone!

67. I HATE the dark!!!

68. I've been to Walt Disney World four times.

69. I HATE flying!!! I take anxiety medication and motion sickness pills!

70. I am deathly AFRAID of snakes! I can't look at them on TV or in the zoo! (I even get the heebie-jeebies just talking about them or listening to someone else talk about them.)

71. I am a WIMP when it comes to spicy foods. Mild salsa is too spicy for me!

72. I have MAJOR sleeping problems.

73. I sleep better in a car than I do in my own bed!

74. I really LOVE color! (Can you tell?)

75. I have a birthmark on my inner thigh. It's lighter than the rest of my skin.

76. Foods I LOVE: peanut butter, cheesecake, and potatoes.

77. Foods I HATE: brussel sprouts, lobster, crab, blue cheese, mushrooms, and ricotta cheese.

78. Favorite beverage: diet coke.

79. Favorite alcoholic beverages: diet coke & Malibu, margaritas, and pina coladas.

80. I see better with my right eye than my left, even with corrected vision.

81. I cannot stand to listen to someone clip their nails. I get totally grossed out!

82. I also get grossed out when someone cracks their knuckles - yet I do it and it doesn't gross me out.

83. I once drank a capful of Everclear alcohol. (I don't recommend it.)

84. I've been to South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Missouri, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, Colorado, and Washington.

85. I've also been to Canada and Mexico.

86. I enjoy baking.

87. I HATE to drive or even ride in a vehicle at night. I try to avoid it at all costs!

88. I have a HUGE CRUSH on Matthew McConaughey. He is such a HOTTIE!!

89. My favorite colors are purple and pink.

90. I HATE coffee and highly doubt I'll ever like it.

91. I've always wanted twin girls. (But this momma ain't having NO more babies!)

92. I like to do karoake in the privacy of my own home with or without the kids.

93. I don't like to go to movie theatres. I'd rather rent the movie and watch it at home.

94. I'm ALWAYS cold - unless it's 90 degrees and I'm sitting at the pool.

95. I LOVE to eat out and would do it everyday if I could!

96. I absolutely HATE cold weather!

97. I am a pack-rat. It is so hard for me to throw things away no matter how important it is or isn't.

98. I'd rather email or chat with my friends in person rather than talking on the phone.

99. I love to organize stuff!

100. I love funky purses and funky socks. You will not catch me carrying a boring purse or wearing boring socks - unless I'm golfing - then I might wear a pair of boring white low-cut socks.

Hope you enjoyed this post and don't think I'm a CRAZY person! :)

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Christmas In July

Friday was Christmas at our house! My Lia Sophia jewelry came! It was SO much FUN to go through it. I'm SO excited I can't wait to wear it all. I'm going to be one stylin' chick! However, Dean was not too happy with my 14 pieces of new jewelry but as usual, he will get over it.

My dad and his lady friend, Pat, came to visit Friday evening so I invited my sister Kelly, her boyfriend, and their three kids over for a grill out. Then we had some YUMMY desserts (rhubarb cheesecake and peanut butter chocolate dessert). Afterwards we played some games - Kids Battle the Grown-Ups and Battle of the Sexes.

Saturday we did some shopping because it was Crazy Days. Boy, was it some LAME Crazy Days!! But I did manage to find a few deals. After lunch we played miniature golf and then my dad and Pat left.

Early Sunday morning Dean & I worked on the landscaping. (Dean's been working HARD on it the past week. Good job, honey! It's appreciated!) The sprinkler system was finished on Tuesday and then Dean started working on the edging. This morning we worked some more on the edging - we're over halfway done! Boy, was it HOT and we're talking 9 am! (When the edging is done, I'll post pictures.) We're hoping to get it finished Monday evening. Then we'll need to finally decided on and buy our rock and patio pavers. After working hard all morning, we decided an afternoon swim sounded good so we headed to the pool. Then it was a LAZY afternoon!

Monday, July 23, 2007

Weekend in Omaha



Friday at 6 pm Kari & I left for Omaha to celebrate her 30th birthday. We stopped in SF for supper and arrived at our hotel in downtown Omaha about 11:45 pm. Probably not a good idea for two girls to arrive in downtown Omaha at midnight!! But we survived! We stayed at The Magnolia Hotel. It's an old historic building that's been updated. Check out the pics - it's really COOL!!

Saturday morning we headed to a GREAT mall and Old Navy and did some damage - but not TOO bad!! I bought three tank tops from The Buckle, two shirts from Aeropostale, a shirt from NY & Co, four shirts from Charlotte Russe, a pair of purple flip flops from Old Navy, a bracelet from Wet Seal, and a pair of jeans from Gap for myself. I also bought Hayley a t-shirt from Aeropostale, two pairs of flip flops from Old Navy, and two head bands with the long ties from Charlotte Russe. She's been wanting one SO bad! Poor Tanner didn't get anything! It's so much more fun to shop for girl stuff! Next time buddy!

Then we headed to Charlie's on the Lake for supper. Obviously they serve a lot of sea food which I really don't care for but we found something I like. They had escargot, calamari, mussels, lobster, crab, etc. Eeewww!! (Kari often goes to this place when she's in Omaha for business.) It was a GREAT atmosphere! Ducks were roaming around freely amongst the guests. Of course I just had to feed them some of our bread and then they REALLY liked me!! One duck kept staring at me - I was getting a little afraid - it finally left after I made a sudden movement - not on purpose, though. For our meal we chose a salad of spinach, water chestnuts, red onion, and strawberries topped with a almond encrusted chicken breast and drizzled with a yummy viniagrette. SO GOOD!! They had an endless list of flavored martinis to choose from. We chose a cookie dough martini and a raspberry lemonade martini. After two sips, we were both buzzing!! CRAZY!! Then for dessert, we had white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. YUMMY!!


Funny story about our waiter at Charlie's. (Kari was trying to decide if she should have a whole martini or we should split one because she was driving and neither of us are big drinkers.) When our waiter was trying to take our drink order we were talking. The conversation went something like this:


Andrea: So Kari, what do you want to do?

Kari: I don't know. What do you think? Should I have a whole one?

Andrea: Have a whole one. We can sit here all night until you feel like you are ok to drive.

Kari: I don't know if I should.

Andrea: Have a whole one. We'll each get a different kind and share them. We've got no place to go.

Kari: OK. Let's each pick one.

Waiter: Where are you guys from? North Dakota? Canada?

(Kari & I laughing!)

Andrea: Why would you say that?

Kari: What did we say that makes you think that?

Waiter: The way you said you have no where to "go".

Kari: (pointing to me) That was you!

Waiter: (talking to Kari) You said something, too so I realized you were traveling together from somewhere.

So evidently we have accents!! I think it's CRAZY!! South Dakotans do NOT have accents! Everyone else does!! It was so funny!!

After our meal, we headed back to our hotel to drop off our purchases and walked to the Old Market. We checked out a bar called Billy Frog's (I think that was what it was called). Right by the front door is a display of driver licenses from all over the US - although, none from our SD. But we did find it amusing seeing a very old lady up there and a crazy looking lady. Not sure why they were up there. I'd hate if one of those were mine!!

Sunday we got up, had breakfast and we were on our way! We got back home about 4 pm. I was SO tired as I only had about 3 hours of sleep EACH night!! Saturday night there was a party going on in the hallway until at least 3 am! I was so ready to kick some butt!!

Sunday night I went to bed at 10:15 and I think I was out in 5 minutes!! I didn't wake up until 7 am and then slept off and on until 9 am. I'm hoping tonight goes just as smoothly!!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Dean the Landscaper

Monday Dean started our landscaping project which involved renting a skid steer to level the yard. (Yes, Amanda - he rented a bobcat.) :-) I was a little worried about Dean using the bobcat. I was inside just waiting to hear the big crash of him running into the house!! But it never happened - THANK GOODNESS!!



Tonight Dean was out pulling weeds. I probably should have been out there helping him but instead I was inside watching last night's episode of Big Brother (gosh, I LOVE that show) and trying to narrow done my choices from the lia sophia catalog. Boy, was that HARD WORK!! I'm pretty sure I was working as hard as my hubby was!! Then my lia sophia sales lady showed up to close my party and then we got to chatting. Sorry, honey! I can't wait to get all my loot - and boy, did I get a lot of loot - but PLEASE, don't tell my hubby!

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Oh, No - The Big 3-0!!

Happy Birthday to my best friend Kari!



It's true! You're turning 30 and there's nothing you can do about it. So grin and bear it!! :)

I somehow survived it so I know you will.
(Oops - did I just admit to being at least 30 years old?!?! No way, I couldn't have!!) :-)

We're heading to Omaha this weekend to celebrate her first weekend of being 30. It should be lots of fun. I hear they have GREAT shopping!!

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Lia Sophia Party

On Friday the 13th, I hosted my Lia Sophia Jewelry Party. Although I didn't have the turn out I was hoping for, it was still a GREAT time. I served munchies, margaritas, and pina coladas. YUM-O!! I had received a couple orders before the party, I still have to collect some orders, and three people were able to make it to my party. So really not too bad overall but I just wish more people would have been able to come to the party. Summer is just too busy for people! Now I have to narrow down my selections or I'd be ordering half the magazine because I think the jewelry is AWESOME! I can't wait to get my jewelry!

We decided to do most of our landscaping ourselves. We had got a couple bids and decided we really didn't want to spend that much money (although we had the money set aside from the sale of our house in M this past January). It's really hard to spend money when you've been holding onto it for so long! So we're going to save ourselves some money and do the landscaping ourselves. Heck, it migh even put us into shape!! Yahoo!! That would be a GREAT bonus!! We just purchased the edging stones. Dean will be renting a bobcat this week and leveling the yard. Then the irrigation guy will come install the sprinkler system (possibly even this week he said) and then we can finally get started. Boy, I can't wait to have a YARD! I'm having a tough time finding the tan rock I want, though. I didn't find it at Menards. I know it's out there somewhere because I've seen it at other houses darn it!! When the yard is done, I say a MARGARITA & PINA COLADA PARTY on the deck!!

Sunday, July 08, 2007

Our 4th of July & Weekend

We had a low key but good 4th of July. By the way, I'm glad everyone liked my creative flag on the 4th. I was laying in bed Wednesday morning thinking about doing a post when this came to mind. Normally I am NOT creative so I greatly appreciate all the nice comments! Thanks!

Wednesday afternoon, we went to the parade. Boy, was it HOT!! Afterwards, we hung out at home and then grilled out before heading to the stadium to partake in the activities there - a clown making balloon animals, baseball toss with radar gun, two bands were playing, concessions, and prizes. Then at dark, the fireworks show started. It was an AWESOME show!! The city did a very good job. But very LOUD - poor Hayley had her ears plugged during the ENTIRE show. (She seems to have sensitive ears and I think it's because of her having tubes in her ears when she was younger.) When we got home we did some sparklers and then went to bed.

Friday evening we went to the pool with Dean's sisters' families. If I can't go during the day because of work, I guess we'll have to start going in the evening. One of Dean's sisters was in town for her 20th reunion.

Saturday we all slept in! We REALLY needed to catch up on our sleep. And holy cow, Tanner did. He slept until 9:00 AM - he has NEVER slept that late. (Friday he slept until 8:00 AM and I was impressed by that and then Saturday he goes and blows me away again by sleeping even later!) He's always been an early riser - 6 to 7 am; I told him I was going to have to pull out his baby book and write this milestone down! :) The kids and I headed to the pool for the afternoon. Dean refused to be outside being it was so HOT! The kids met up with some of their old neighborhood friends from M. They had so much fun! My car said it was 100 degrees when we left the pool at 4:00. YIKES!! No wonder why I felt so sick!! After supper we hung out at Dean's parents' house with Dean's two sisters' families.

We had an interesting evening last night. We got home about 9:00 pm and couldn't get into our garage. Dean and I both tried the garage door opener SEVERAL times before I finally got out of our vehicle to try the keypad. But that didn't work neither. Finally after several attempts, a neighbor across the street yells that there's been a power outage. OH, GREAT!! So we parked outside and went inside to find out we definitely had no power. It was too dark to do anything inside so we played some card games out on the deck before coming in so the kids could go to bed. The kids brushed their teeth by flashlight while Dean & I brushed our teeth by candlelight. But the candlelight wasn't enough for me to remove my contacts. I had to go get the flashlight and set it on the sink so it was pointing up towards the ceiling so I could remove my contacts! Finally Dean called the utility company to get some info on the power outage. We were told that the power went out at 8:20, they didn't know what caused it, and they were working on restoring it. Thank goodness it had cooled down some outside but it was starting to get a little warm and stuffy inside. Dean & I decided to go to bed at 10:15. We were in bed for about 5 minutes when all of a sudden the power came back on - oops, left some lights on. So Dean & I got up and started resetting everything. So we were without power for 2 hours!! Glad it wasn't during the afternoon when it was 100 degrees!

Sunday afternoon we had our neighborhood friends from M over before they left to go back to M. They were up here camping. Otherwise Sunday is just going to be a LAZY day for us. Everyone deserves that now and then!

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Happy 4th of July

* * * * * * * * * *********************
* * * * * * * * **********************
* * * * * * * * * *********************
* * * * * * * * **********************
* * * * * * * * * *********************
**********************************
**********************************
**********************************
**********************************
**********************************

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Police Station

Yesterday was an interesting day. I had to go to the police station to be finger printed. NO, it wasn't for a crime I've committed! It was for my job. I am considered an affiliate staff member of a division of the government so I need to be finger printed. I have NEVER been to a police station and hope I NEVER have to go back. It was real intimidating. I couldn't WAIT to get out of there. These days you don't have to deal with those messy ink pads. It's all computerized. Everything went well except for my left pinky - it was having issues! After three tries, they finally gave up with an incompatible read. It looked fine to me but evidently the computer didn't think so!!