25 Random Things About Me!

I've been tagged by Tara and Lisa to reveal 25 random things about me. After reading theirs, I realize I share some of their traits. I guess things, even random things, run in the family. So here it goes:

1.Even though I'm fasinated by them, I am deathly afraid of bears.

2.My favorite color is any shade of pink.

3.I am a closet Backstreet Boys fan.

4.I have to make my bed everyday. If I don't, I fret about it all day long.

5.I don't like wearing sneakers. I'll wear them if I have to, but they are not my choice of footwear.

6.I wish I was half as beautiful as my daughters.

7.I have to have my pink blanket that Debbie crocheted for me, like 25 years ago, to go to sleep.
I take it everywhere, even to the hospital when I had the girls.

8.I won't leave the house without lipstick or mascara on.

9.I like rock and alternative rock music. Not a fan on country music.

10.I love riding in the Corvette, but I don't really like driving it.

11.I don't like going to the Carousel Mall. It seems like it's a big production to go there. I will only
go there if I have to. Great Northern is so much easier.

12.I call my Mom and Dad 2-3 times a day.

13.I still need my girls to help me figure things out on my cell phone.

14.I always wished I had green eyes.

15.My all time favorite movie is the Parent Trap, the old one with Haley Mills and Brian Keith.
"Get me out of this stinking fresh air!"

16.I love to lay out in the sun. I know it's unhealthy, but it feels so good!

17.I've had a subscription to Glamour magazine since I wa 18 years old.

18.I hate hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, all rodents. I even told the girls hamsters could give
them lice to discourage them from wanting them. It worked for a while, but they eventually
caught on.

19.We've all heard jokes about mothers-in-laws, but I truly adore my mother-in-law Rosemary.
I wish she could live with us.

20.My favorite snack food is popcorn.

21.I also have had paranormal experiences(like Tara). I've never been very frightened, but a
few have stopped me in my tracks!

22.If I take a handful of snacks, say M&M's, I have to have a even number of them(like Lisa).
If I count them, and it is an odd number, I will throw one away.

23.I have always wanted to go to Hawaii, like the Brady's did on the Brady Bunch.

24. I love Calvin Klein jeans. Been wearing them since jr. high.

25. Tim is the funniest person I have ever met. Fortunately the girls have inherited his sense of
humor.

Here is my list. Paula, now considered yourself tagged. Thanks Tara, this was fun.

Happy Birthday and Congratulations Amanda!

Amanda celebrated her 17th birthday this week. I can't believe it's been 17 years since she was born. It doesn't seem that long ago she was just a little girls "cooing" in her bouncy chair. Now she is a junior in high school. Everyone said to enjoy every minute because time flies. I heard them, but I didn't really think too much about it. Boy were they right! So all of you with young kids, enjoy every minute. Today I took Amanda to Fulton for her road test. I picked her up from school early, and she seemed pretty relaxed. She did admit to having butterflies in her stomach all day though. It was a perfect day, mid 40's and no snow. Right before it was her turn for the test, the sun came out and the local church's bells started to ring. We took that as a good sign! The instructor was crabby, but she passed with flying colors. She was so excited and nervous that her hands were shaking so hard I had to drive home. She is a very good driver, but I still don't know if I'm ready yet for her to just take the car and drive away. I'm sure I will get used to it, but right now, even as I'm writing about it, my heart is beating a little faster. It's another milestone in her life. Again, enjoy every minute!

GO CARDINALS!

Tim's waited a long, long, long time for this. His beloved Arizona Cardinals are playing for the 1st time ever for a NFC Championship. He has been a Cardinal fan since he was 12 years old, and over the years has taken much abuse from friends and co-workers over his teams lack of success. I have even encouraged him to pick a new favorite team after seeing his disappointment year after year as the Cardinals struggle to win games. He always refused, staying loyal to the Cards. His faith and loyalty has fianlly paid off. Last Saturday was the wild card game between the Cardinals and the Atlanta Falcons. The Cardinals have not been in a playoff game in 10 years, and have not played a home playoff game since 1947, 61 years ago!Our living room was turned into a Cardinal shrine. Jackets, sweatshirts, cups and hats were strategically placed to ensure good luck. With Dianne and Jake helping us to cheer them on, the final score was Arizona-30 Atlanta-24! This week the Cardinals were slated to play the Carolina Panthers in North Carolina. All the experts were in agreement, no way could the Cardinals beat the Panthers. Tim deemed all the experts idiots. All week Tim was part nervous,part anxious, and part excited for the game. The game was set to start at 8:15, and he was prepared. Once again our living room was turned into the shrine, everything in the exact same spot to ensure the same good luck. One problem, Amanda was to compete in her first winterguard competition of the season Saturday night in Phoenix (NY that is). Tim, being the great Dad that he is, did not want to miss seeing her perform. He drove up to Phoenix, watched her perform (which she did awesome by the way),and raced back home in time for the opening kick-off. With the tv at a deafening pitch, Angela,Jake, Dianne and I (we made it back in time for the 2nd half) helped cheer them to another win. They not only won, but they kicked their butts 33-13! The so called experts, or idiots, are now eating their words. They are now set to play the Philadelphia Eagles in Arizona on Sunday. Even though Tim is a Donavon McNabb fan, this household will be cheering for the Cards. Once again the shrine will be set up, and the tv will be loud enough to hear across the street. Who ever would have imagined this would be the year the Cardinals would be in the race to, do I dare I say it, the Superbowl. I will keep you updated. Congratulations Cardinals, and congratulations Tim. GO CARDINALS!!!

Grandparents!

Our girls are very blessed to have three sets of Grandparents. They may not realize it now, but we know that as they get older, they will truly realize what a special time it is in their lives. There are so many kids out there that have only time aged photos of their grandparents, or in this case, GREAT graandparents! But for us, it is here and now, and it is our job to take advantage of that. Tim and I made it a point that over the holiday week that we were going to carve out time to spend true quality time with each and everyone of them, leaving behind the burden of the usual day to day schedule of drop off and pick up times to meet the girl's busy schedules. It was nice to make it a point of leaving our watches on the kitchen table. We spent Christmas Eve and part of Christmas Day with my parents. The girls love to see Papa perform the ever famous Gilbertsville "Rickity Rackaty Russ" cheer, and think it is so cool that Maga was a cheerleader in high school. We eventually drove to New Hartford to spend the rest of the day with Tim's parents. It's not the gifts that make Christmas, it's spending time with family and friends. This is what the holidays are truly about, and I think the girls really understood it this year. This past Sunday, Ed and Rosemary came to our house to spend the afternoon with us and have dinner.The girls sat right next to Papa, hanging on his every word, because they knew something funny was about to be said. Ma just shakes her head in her passive way to tell the girls not to encourage him. On Monday, we decided to take a drive to Utica to visit Tim's grandparents. We stopped and picked up Rosemary and spent a few hours with Grandma and Pa. It was fun to visit with them, and they were so happy to see us. As soon as we opened the door and filed in, we received the hugs that only grandparents can give. It was as if we never missed a beat with them. We tend to get so wrapped up in our busy lives, but we really need to make a conscious effort to visit all of them more often....and we will. These times will not last forever and we know that. That's why it's going to be one of our New Years resolutions to make the time.