25 Random Things About Me

My friend Melissa tagged me on facebook to write 25 random facts about myself. So, here you have it - 25 things that you may have never wanted to know about me. :+)

1. I can't stand hot dogs and I once turned down $100 to eat a hot dog off a street vendor in Manhattan. Hello, have you ever read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair?
2. My toe nails are never without polish. Fire engine red is usually my color of choice, but sometimes I mix it up with a hot pink.
3. I speak Spanish with an Argentine accent. As a missionary in Chile, most of my companions were from Argentina and they taught me to speak “south American.” I’m trying to learn “Mexican” here in AZ.
4. I hate leftovers. As a kid, clean-out-the-fridge night was my least favorite night of the week. Unfortunately, my love for leftovers has not increased with my age.
5. My favorite chore is ironing. There’s just something really satisfying about getting the wrinkles out of something. I love a crisp white shirt. I iron my boys’ clothes. Crazy, but true.
6. Hawaiian Papaya is one of my most favorite treats. With a little freshly squeezed lime, it’s the perfect way to start the day.
7. I get a delivery from Amazon.com at least once a week. The prime membership is worth every penny. With their free two-day shipping, I have no idea how they make any money one me. I purchase everything from diapers and my kids’ vitamins to Halloween costumes and books.
8. My athletic ability is lacking or just severely underdeveloped. After taking a beginning tennis class a few years ago, I was told that I needed to repeat the course. Embarrassing. Really embarrassing.
9. BYU was the only college I applied to (good thing I got in!). Go cougs!
10. I take along my own mini-down comforter when I travel. Chris refers to it affectionately as my “purple blankee.” Kate, if you’re reading this, “purple blankee” is the blanket you gave me for my birthday 8 years ago. Thanks!
11. The first car I ever owned was a used baby blue Geo Prism. Yep, you guessed it, a hatchback. Got it my junior year at BYU. I thought it was cool because it had a car phone (purchased it from a telecom company).
12. The only thing Chris and I will NOT share is an order of French Fries – get your own, darling, he says!
13. I love making lists. Now, if I could just figure out how to accomplish all of those things on my to do lists.
14. I have never broken a bone in my body. Knock on wood. However, I did lose one of my permanent front teeth when I was just 8 years old.
15. I always check to see if the latch is pulled all the way on a hotel room door when I step outside to leave a room service tray. On a business trip a few years ago, I got locked out of my room wearing only a towel (My luggage didn't make it and my only pair of clothes were drying in the shower).
16. It took two years for my in-laws to learn my name.
17. I hate feet. The only adult feet I have intentionally ever touched are my husband’s. When I was growing up, my siblings would sometimes call a “foot attack” and they would all put their feet on me. So mean!
18. I want to learn how to take good photos.
19. I’m fascinated with American History. I can’t learn enough about our founding fathers, their challenges, wisdom and inspiration.
20. I’m terrified of snakes. Short, long, rattles, no rattles – they all scare me. I just can’t understand why anyone would have a snake as a pet.
21. I’m a night owl, but I wish I were a morning person. Morning people just seem to get so much more done.
22. Eating a good meal outside on a nice day is one of my favorite things to do.
23. I received the “shy award” in kindergarten. By nature, I’m more of an introvert, but I have learned to become somewhat of an extrovert.
24. My great-grandmother and I were good friends. Grandma Howell didn’t pass away until I was 25 so we got a lot of good time in. A long time from now, when I’m a grandma, I want to be just like her.
25. I watch American Idol. I became a fan shortly after Calahan was born. Chris and I didn’t get out much those first few weeks and American Idol became a Tuesday and Wednesday night staple that has lasted.

If you'd like to play along, please post 25 random tidbits about yourself! 

And the Cala-Trivia Winner is...

Calahan's Aunt (and my sister), Anne Marie. Congrats, Anner! Leave me a comment as to which prize you want (homemade strawberry jam or a restaurant gift card) and I'll get it in the mail.

Thanks to everyone who played along. Here are the correct answers:

1) Which of the following "dips" does Calahan NOT like?

Mayo

Cal is known as our little dipper. He will eat almost anything if he can dip it. We often ask him if he'd like some ketchup with his hot dog, some chicken with his BBQ sauce and quesadilla with his salsa.

2) Who is Calahan's favorite Signing Time character?

Hopkins

3) What is Cal's favorite thing to say?

All done

Cal is a little analyzer and loves to tell us when something has finished (or he wants it to finish). All done is usually a good thing unless we are at a restaurant and he proclaims "all done" before we've even ordered our food!

4) Calahan enjoys all of the following activities EXCEPT:

Riding in the stroller

Much to my chagrin, Calahan hates being constrained when out in public. Shopping carts, high chairs, and strollers are all trouble. Surprisingly, Cal has learned to love brushing his teeth (if you give him enough baby toothpaste on the brush).

5) Which of the following has Cal NOT done:

Smeared vaseline all over the window in his bedroom (thank goodness)

Here's a little view of the oatmeal incident:

And here's a look at his hair after the bath gel incident. I think it was an honest attempt to gel his hair that went bad. Even though this happened in October, our carpet still smells like Molton Brown's black pepper.

6) How many ASL signs does Cal do on a regular basis?

More than 50.

Calahan has saved both of us a lot of frustration because he can tell us what he wants in sign when he can't say it. We've really stepped up our emphasis on sign since Crewe is going to have a speech delay and we will all need to communicate with him this way for a least a little while.

7) Cal's favorite musical instrument is:

The Drums 

I thought this phase might pass, but it hasn't! Cal loves to beat on the drums. He can actually keep a beat and also loves to tap his hand on his leg to the beat of music. I've got to get a video of this because it's so cute.

Thanks again for playing along. This is such a fun age. I wish I could just press the pause button.

Cala-Trivia -- Play along and win a prize!

Where have the last two months gone? Calahan is 20 months old today and I completely missed doing his 18 month update. So, I'm going to do an update via a trivia quiz about the little man. Here's how it goes: Anyone who wants to play along should use the comment function to reply with his/her answers to the 7 questions below about Calahan. Answers are due by January 15th. The person who scores the highest will win their choice of a jar of homemade strawberry jam (Cal's favorite breakfast treat) or a $10 gift card to one of Cal's favorite restaurants (Chick-fil-a, McDonalds, or Cheesecake Factory).

Got it? Okay, start answering! You don't even have to know Calahan to play along. Good Luck!

1) Which of the following "dips" does Calahan NOT like?

A) BBQ Sauce

B) Ketchup

C) Guacamole

D) Mayo

2) Who is Calahan's favorite Signing Time character?

A) Hopkins

B) Rachel

C) Leah

D) Alex

3) What is Cal's favorite thing to say?

A) No

B) All done

C) Dada

D) More

4) Calahan enjoys all of the following activities EXCEPT:

A) Reading books

B) Listening to music

C) Riding in the stroller

D) Brushing his teeth

5) Which of the following has Cal NOT done?

A) Spilled an entire bottle of men's body wash on the living room carpet

B) Smeared vaseline all over the window in his bedroom

C) Emptied a brand new container of oatmeal all over the pantry floor

D) Put a container of hot chocolate into the washer full that washed with a load of clothes

6) How many ASL signs does Calahan do on a regular basis?

A) 10-15

B) 16-30

C) 31-50

D) More than 50

7) Cal's favorite musical instrument is:

A) Piano

B) Drums

C) Maracas

D) Anything he can find in the kitchen cabinets