5 Question Friday!

Happy Friday, Y'all!!  Don't forget, if you decide to participate, copy and paste the questions to your own blog, and then link up to My Little Life!

1. What do you listen to while driving?

Hmm, this all depends on how long I'll be in the car, or where I'm going.  For example, if I am headed to my son's baseball game, then we listen to the Black Eyed Peas.  If I'm going on a long drive, say to Florida, then I load up the CD player with either some Kenny Chesney or music from the 70's.  If it's the morning, then I listen to the Bob & Sheri talk show.  They are hysterical, so I'd rather listen to them then music. 


2. What is your least favorite thing about Fall?

Fall is my favorite time of year!  What's not to love?  If I HAD to pick something, it would be waking up in the morning to chilly weather.  Don't get me wrong, I love the cooler temps {especially after a hot southern summer}, but I would prefer to ease into the chilly-ness.  Like after I've already put on my sweats!

3. What does your dream house look like, inside and out?

This is an easy one for me!!  I've actually already drawn my "dream home" on notebook paper.  One day, I will build it.  It's a 2 story home.  The master bedroom is on the main floor, along with a small living room, a dining room, a huge family room with a stacked stone fireplace, an equally large eat-in kitchen, walk-in pantry and laundry room.  Upstairs, there is 4 additional bedrooms and a playroom.  Of course, by the time I actually get to build this house, my kids probably won't live at home anymore and a house this big would not be necessary.  I'm building it anyway.  Oh, and there will be bathrooms.  And a maid!


4. Would you ever own a minivan?

Once upon a time, I said "NO WAY!"  I wanted to be the cool mom who drove anything but a minivan.  They were horribly ugly things when I was younger.  They have come a long way since then.  Now, I'm on my 3rd one.  There is no way around having one when you have 4 kids.  The room inside is great.  I've looked at other vehicles that all of us can fit in, and have come to the conclusion that if we want leg room, we should have at least one minivan.  Besides, each of my 4 kids can get a corner so there is no "S/he is touching me!"  or "S/he is on my side!"  A win/win all around.

5. Do you wash new clothes before wearing them?

Most of the time I do.  However, if I buy something and really want to wear it the next day and have already done the laundry, then I suck it up and wear it.  Except underwear.  That always gets washed first.  No exceptions.  I've seen an episode of House where kids were dropping like flies from some illness and it turned out that it was the dye in the new, unwashed clothes the kids were wearing.  I know, it's only a TV show, but I wonder if that could happen? 

TGIF!!

Guess what time it is??  That's right, it's 5?F!  Seriously,  I envy people who post things every day.  I just feel like my daily life is not that interesting and don't want to bore you to death.  However, I love my 5 questions!

1. Did you have a pen pal when you were little (or now)? Where were/are they from?


I did!  Actually, I had 2.  One of my mother's aunts was a teacher (as well as a nun) in California.  She hooked me up with one of her students, a girl, there.  Her name was Christina Hernandez.  I can't believe I remember her name!  I was in grade school when we were pen pals.  I wonder what ever happened to her?  Hmmm.... Moving on, I was pen pals with another girl also.  She lived in France.  Unfortunately, I cannot remember her name at all.   I was in grade school when we were pen pals, too!  My daughter, Aislinn, has several pen pals right now.   One is in France, another in Poland and a third in Australia.  It's great because they send each other things specific to where they live.

2. If you could do a different job for one day, what would it be?

An actress.  Staring in something with Josh Duhamel.  Hmm?  Oh, sorry.  I was daydreaming for a minute there.  Whew!


3. Do you remember your biggest fear from when you were little?

I would have to say driving over a bridge over water.  I totally hate that.  Even today.  It doesn't matter if it's super tall or just a low bridge.  There is a very long bridge near where I used to live in Florida that went over a lake famous for alligators.  I would hit 80 going over that.  The thought of having the bridge collapse and being in the water with those man-eaters just totally terrified me.

4. What do you think is a waste of time? Why?

Probably complaining over things you can't change.  Seriously though, we all do it.  And I agree that it is normal.  Sometimes it's just to vent frustrations, but if you can't do anything about the situation, then it is just a waste of time.


5. What is the oldest item you have in your closet?

Other than dust?  I can't think of any specific clothing item.  I rarely buy any new clothes, so what's in my closet has been there for years.  And years.  I think Joe has shirts from when he was in high school.  (He grew up in a family of pack rats!)   I think there might even be a pocket watch of his grandfathers in there somewhere.

I will be back later today to post on some things that have happened in the past 2 weeks.  I know, you can hardly contain the joy!  In the meantime, have a great day!!

5 Question Friday and more...

Today feels like a big post day for me.  I've got the much loved (by me anyway) 5 Question Friday as well as some other stuff.  So let's get to it, shall we?

1. What is the first nightmare you remember?

Oh my.  The first nightmare I can remember was when I lived in Boston as a little girl.  Little, as in under 6 years old.  I would swear that I woke up one night to find my mother washing dishes in the kitchen.  In the hall area by the front door sat a big, black trash bag.  Inside that trash bag was an old woman, with her head sticking out of the top!!  Yes, I have an active imagination.  Anyhow, I am standing there looking at the woman who reaches out of the bag, and scratches one of her long finger nails down my leg!  My mom tosses a look over her shoulder at me saying something.  I'm not sure what.  This image is so real and vivid, that even after over 30 years I can recall it instantly.  One day, a while back, I finally told my mom about it.  She told me that for Christmas one year, she and my dad bought me this doll that they thought was really pretty.  It was placed in the area by the door facing the hallway so I would see it as soon as I started towards the living room.  However, upon seeing this doll, I was terrified and wouldn't come out until it was gone.  She ended up having to throw the doll out.  I can only imagine that it terrified me so much that over the years I had nightmares about that thing!!  Apparently I had issues even as a kid!!


2. Even if you're not a sports fan, what's your favorite sport to play/watch?

As a kid, I played soccer for years and LOVED it.  As a matter of fact, last year I even played for the women's adult league here in Columbus!  I tried baseball as a kid and sucked so bad that my parents let me quit.  I was horrible.  My oldest son plays baseball and while I can't watch it on TV, because I find it so incredibly boring, I really enjoy watching him play.  I've learned so much over the past 4 years.  I love watching kids play sports.  I'm not trying to live through him or anything, I just love to watch him play.


3. If you could pull off one piece of trendy fashion, what would you want it to be (jeggings, hats, thigh high boots, etc.)?

Oh, this question is so easy!!  If I could pull it off, I would wear skinny jeans!  As a matter of fact, even if I didn't wear them, I just want to be able to fit in them.  And breathe at the same time.   Maybe some day I will get a thigh in comfortably, but not in the immediate future.  Great.  Now I'm depressed.


4. Did you make good grades in school?

Hmmm.  In what subject?  Some classes were better than others.  One year, though, I was mad at the world and my grades certainly reflected that.  I just didn't care.  My family had moved from Massachusetts to Florida right before I was set to graduate 8th grade.  I was with those kids for 7 years and now was moving to start a new school 2 months before graduation and be with kids I didn't know at all.  And I was about to turn 13.  Well, I was going to show my parents what I thought of that bright move on their part.  Yeah, I didn't quite think things through, did I?  Anyhow, my freshman year in high school was not very successful.  Things got better after that year.  I may or may not still have a little hostility left over from that year.  I'm a work in progress.


5. What magazines do you subscribe to?

None.  Last year, my MIL got me a subscription to Star magazine, which ended last month.  I think the postal workers really enjoyed reading it as well, because I had to wait over a week after it was on the stands before mine showed up.  And it had been clearly well handled by then.   I used to have several scrapbooking magazine subscriptions as well.  I miss those. 

So that's my edition of 5 Question Friday.  As always, feel free to copy the questions with your answers and link up to My Little Life. 



What else?  Well, these past few weeks have been crazy as usual.  Sunday school has started.  I'm determined to leave on time this year and not get any speeding tickets.  Fall baseball has also started. Aidan has never played in the fall, so this is new to us.  Apparently, it's much more relaxed.  There is no score kept, no pitch count, and it's just fun.  Frankly, it's been hard to get used to!  Progress reports came out last week at school.  I am happy to report that my little geniuses are doing great!!  Mostly.  I've also been looking for a job.  I've taken a substitute teacher workshop and been fingerprinted, so as of now, I am on the sub list for the schools in our county.  I've applied for a couple other jobs as well.  Hopefully I will hear something soon.  I also spent one day this week at several car dealerships.  So not fun.  We still only have one car.  Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.  I need to pick up this month's Angel Food (which, by the way, is pretty good), buy 2 birthday gifts, go to 2 birthday parties, go to church, and Maeve is having a friend come over.  Sunday I plan to close the pool.  And rest.

That's all for now.  Have a great night!!

5QF

I can't believe how quickly this past week has gone by.  While I have been busy, I am going to stick with a simple post of 5 Question Friday.  Feel free to copy the questions and link up at My Little Life. 

1. Do you feel guilty spending money on yourself?


Actually, I do.  I'd much rather spend any extra money on my kids.   However, if I have been looking for something for the house for a really long time (like that table I just bought) then I get it.  But only, if I can find it at a really good price (like that table I just bought).

2. How well do you know your neighbors?

Well...I know who they are.  I've got neighbors on one side that have 4 kids like we do, but they are never home.  Ever.  I see the dad at restaurants and the mom driving down the road, but never at their house.  The neighbors on the other side of us have 2 kids, and I see the mom more often.  She works with Joe, also.   They should carpool so I can keep the car during the day!  I think times are just different now.  People just don't hang around and have block parties anymore, which is really a shame.  I remember when we moved here 4 years ago.  I was the new one in the neighborhood and yet I was the one to go to my neighbors houses to introduce myself.  They probably thought I was a weird one.  Maybe they are right!


3. What age are you looking forward to being?

I just turned 40 this past June and can finally admit that out loud without hyperventilating!  I can't imagine an age I look forward to being.  However, I look forward to the day my kids are 18 and living on their own!  Ha!   No, Seriously.

4. Do you get excited when the mail comes? Why?

I used to look forward to getting the mail.  Especially when I was little and it was around my birthday.  I loved getting cards and packages.   Now that I am older, all I ever get are bills, so I put off going to the mailbox as often as I can.  My kids LOVE getting the mail everyday and even have their own designated mail days.

5. What is your earliest childhood memory?

I'm not sure how old I was, but because of where I lived, I know I was younger than 7.  As a matter of fact, I think I was younger than 5.  I vividly remember standing in my side yard, which is actually no bigger than a small patch of grass, when an older man was walking down the street.  He was tall, wearing a suit and had gray hair.  He all of a sudden, stopped walking and fell straight back onto the sidewalk.  I remember seeing blood seeping from his head and on the walk.  Our parents (I lived in a 3 family house.  My cousins lived on the 1st floor, we lived on the 3rd) all came out to see what was going on and told us to go into the house.  Some memory, huh?
 
Have a great night everyone! 

It's 5 Question Friday!

1. Do you have any nicknames and if so how did it come about?

I'd have to say that I do not have any nicknames.  Sure, my husband calls me the usual things like "honey" and whatnot, but other than that nothing comes to mind.  When I was a kid, though, I was very thin and called everything from stick to twig and string bean.  I'm also quite certain that, behind my back, my kids have probably called me something other than mom!

2. What is your birth order amongst your siblings?

My parents only had my brother and me.  I am the oldest.  I've often wanted a sister, especially when I was a young girl.  I like to pretend that my parents had me, and seeing that rainbows sprouted from my arse, decided to have another golden child.  They quickly realize, after my brother was born, that one cannot hit the lottery twice and immediately stopped having any more kids.

3. In a movie of your life, who would play your significant other?

Oh my.  There are so many actors that I really like.  I am always after my husband to shave his head, so maybe Bruce Willis.  However, because Joe is anything but a daredevil, I can't see that working.  If I were to play me in the movies, then I would want John Duhamel to play Joe.  That man is HOT!!

4. What is currently your favorite song?

Sorry, I was lost in thought after that last question!  Ahem.  Anyhow, currently my favorite song is probably California Gurls by Katy Perry and Snoop Dog.  Each summer has a song for that year and this year, that was it. 

5. Are you saving your money for anything right now? Big or small purchase?

If you've read my last post, you already know the answer to this.  I'm not really saving for any big purchases.  I am trying not to spend money on anything that I don't absolutely need.  This way I can pay off any debt.  Once that is done, and we only owe on the house, then I want to buy land someplace so I can build the home of my dreams. 

That's all of my answers this week.  Feel free to copy and paste them to your blog and fill in your own answers!  Let me know if you do.  I'd love to read them.  Then, head over to My Little Life and link up!!

5 Question Friday

I gotta tell you, I just love 5 question Friday!


1. Are you a neat sleeper or a messy sleeper?


I am a neat sleeper.  I cannot stand it when the covers are messy and feel all wrinkly on my legs.  I know, anal.  I can't help it.  There are worse things in life to worry about though.


2. Fill in the blank. I wish I was more ________________.

Boy, there are so many things that come to mind here!  Maybe: nicer to my kids, health conscious, or financially stable.  This is a good question!


3. What is something that you wish you had been warned about?

Ooo!!  Maybe how much money I would be spending on scrapbooking and other craft supplies.  My husband would have probably put his foot down immediately!!  Although I can't say that it would have stopped me.


4. What was the best thing you ever found at a garage sale/flea market?

I must admit here that I've never been to a flea market!  And as for garage sales, well, I've HAD them, I just don't go to them.  I sound like a snob right?  My mom found a Longeberger basket for 25 cents though.  I don't have that kind of luck.

5. If you could have any meal brought to you right now, what would it be?

Since I've already eaten and am not the least bit hungry, I'd have to say ice cream!  Who can say no to ice cream?  Besides, it's around 100 degrees every single day here, so ice cream always hits the spot!

5QF

Has it really been a week already?  I guess it's that time again.

1. Did you have a favorite blanket or toy as a kid? If so, do you still have it?

I probably have to check with my parents on this one.  I remember one Christmas where I got a pair of roller skates and was the happiest kid on the planet.  I used to go roller skating every weekend.  Yes, I spent 10 years of my childhood trapped in the 80's.  On a side note, my neice still has a receiving blanket she got as a baby!  She spent 2 weeks here recently and brought it with her.  She sleeps with it every night.  She's 12.  This poor blanket has holes in it and is as thin as it gets.  I hope she never gets rid of it!!


2. Do you dream in color?

I think I dream in black and white.  At least when I wake up and can remember my dreams, it never crosses my mind that "Wow!  Those colors were so vivid!" or anything.


3. How tall are you? Do you wish you were shorter or taller?

I am 5"4".  Sometimes I wish I was a little bit taller.  Maybe by 2 or 3 inches.  I don't wear heels at all, so I am stuck at my height.  My kids are starting to creep up to my height, so one of these days I might just rethink the heel wearing situation!!


4. If you could have anyone's (celeb or other) voice as the guide on your GPS, who would it be?

Sean Connery.  I love his accent.  However, we have a Tom Tom and I recently found out that I can download Homer Simpson's voice!!  Can you just imagine taking a wrong turn?  "D'oh!"


5. Do you return your shopping cart to the corral or leave it wherever in the parking lot?

I always return it to the corral.  I know, live on the wild side, right?  I would just feel terrible if I caused damage to someone's car because I was lazy.  I even return it in the pouring rain.

5 Question Friday

I know I'm a day late, but I'm linking up anyways!

1. What were your school colors?


In high school, my colors were blue and silver (Go Silverhawks!)
I never finished college, so no colors to report there.  Someday I WILL go back, much to the shock of my kids.


2. What's the best compliment you ever received?

The best compliment any mom could receive, other than "Did you lose weight?" would be that I have some really great kids.   That's always nice to hear.  Even though they all have minds of their own, I like to take some credit for how they are doing.

3. Do you buy cheap or expensive toilet paper?

Cheap toilet paper?!?  No way.  Not for me.  I don't want to feel sandpaper on my tush.  I love soft T.P.  My bum deserves no less!


4. Have you ever had a surprise party thrown for you? Or have you had one for someone else?

I've had a surprise baby shower thrown for me.  We lived in Mississippi at the time and my family lives in Florida and Massachusetts.  My mom couldn't make it, but surprised me at Diana's house with a phone call!  It was a pajama shower, so everyone was nice and comfy.  It was so sweet and a lot of fun!! 

On the flip side, I've never planned a surprise party for anyone.  I think it would be really cool!

5. What is one material possession that you "can't live without"?

This is an easy one!  Since I don't have a phone or a car, and I'm doing just fine that way thankyouverymuch, I would have to say my washing machine.  I am no Pollyanna and have NO DESIRE to start slapping my clothes against any rocks to get them cleaned.  Either that, or my microwave, but I think I could do without that also.