7 Random Things about me

So Heather tagged me and in keeping with the rules shown below here is her blog http://familyofhatchlings.blogspot.com/
So my 7 random facts about myself are....

1. I encourage myself to lose weight and have a healthy lifestyle with a sticker chart much like my daughters potty chart. At the end of the day if I have followed in pursuit of the goals I have set which are 1. Eat all meals before 6pm 2. Drink half the recommended amount of water per day (because I am having reasonable expectations of myself and will work up to 8 cups eventually) 3. Write in my journal at least weekly about my life and my progress 4. Work out 5 days a week 3 of them are areobic and 2 are strength training. 5. Eat at the kitchen table, then I get to have my sticker. It has been strangely motivating....and when I don't get a sticker at the end of the day I've committed to not have an all or nothing attitude and try again the next day.

2. I am one of a kind... I have no whole brothers or sisters. But I have 4 half brothers, 4 Step brothers, 3 half sisters, and 1 step sister. Crazy huh! For the record though the 3 brothers I was raised with I don't think of as half brothers....they're my brothers through and through!

3. I involuntarily squeal when I'm excited. During my childhood my mom noticed that when I was watching an exciting part in a movie or about to go do something fun, Christmas it happened a lot, I would let out this squeal of excitment. As an adult I have been able to control it a little better. When I feel it coming on and I'm in a place where its not quite appropriate like Church, or in the grocery store...I can make myself squeal on the inside rather than letting it out audibly.

4. I rub/itc the right side of my forehead/eyebrow with the palm of my hand when I'm frusterated, overstimulated, or tired. Its one of my "tells"!

5. My favorite kind of jokes are PON (Play On Words)jokes, according to my husband, he discovered he consistently gets a laugh out of me with this kind of joke.

6. I get road rage at slow drivers. I can be in a perfectly lovely mood but if I come aross someone who is going slower than the speed limit I feel deep deep anger at them! Then I go on a tirade (in my head) and what I would say to them if I had the chance. I've imagined even fashioning a sign to look very much like a speed limit sign with a popscicle stick handle to have in my car and shake at them as I pass by....once I can finally pass them.....curse you 2 lane highway!

7. I hate forwards in email. They are a waste of time and effort...I have dial-up internet so if I'm going to take the time to wait for a page to load, it better be good, it better be something that someone wrote to me for me.

THE END

Hubby Tag!

1. Where did you meet your husband? I met him at a Know your Religion in Stevensville, MT before he was even really investigating the church. It was the first time he's ever gone to anything LDS. He worked for my old YW leaders husband and was wearing the company logo I had designed on his coat... I'd never seen it used before....it was a sign!

2. How long did you date before you were married? Almost a year to the day...we started dating on leap day 2004 and were married Feb 25th 2005

3. How long have you been married? 3 1/2 years

4. What does he do that surprises you? He likes Opera! He came home one day and said did you know _____ died? ( I don't remember his name.) you know, of the 3 tenors? I said no I didn't. And then he replied "I'm really sad." I started laughing cuz I was sure he was being sarcastic....he wasn't.

5. What is your favorite feature of his? I love his man hands and blue eyes and his Fred Flintstone feet! (I'm so serious they look just like Fred Flintstone which is funny because that company logo I did was a cave man modled after the flintstones)

6. What is your favorite quality of his? He is very self motivated. Hes always making goal lists and plans. Notebooks and notebooks of them. I found that very promising when we started dating. And he doesn't mind being silly around me....note the pictures... 7. Does he have a nickname for you? When he wants somthing he wisks me into his arms and holds me close and traces tiny cicles with his finger on my back or shoulder and says "Whose my cream puff?"

8. What is his favorite food? He loves Stir-fry and mashed potatos...long story....

9. What is his favorite sport? Right now its UFC (Ultimate Fighting Club)

10. When and where was you first kiss? At the back door of a friends house we kissed goodbye after a dance party. Could you resist that?

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? We like to watch movies together...its all we can afford and we love it Yay for Netflix!!! No late fees!

12. Do you have any children? 1 girl 1 boy

13. Does he have any hidden talents? He is crazy good at fractions...yeah like math...yuck! And he is all about history...everyday I get a history lesson of some kind. He just somehow remembers it all.

14. How old is he? 28 but in his heart I think hes still about 5

15. Who said I love you first? He did

16. What is his favorite music? He likes noise...thats what I call it. And he loves the soundtrack to Star Wars and Lawrence of Arabia

17. What do you admire most about him? His commitment to always better himself in someway, or learn something new.

18. What is his favorite color? Maroon (not red, yet not black...he wanted me to specify)

19. Will he read this? I hope so.

20. Who do you tag? If you are reading this I tag you.

2 months later...

So time went by fast and now the summer is over. I actually had to turn on the heater today. It was so chilly. We've had a good summer though. Chase is 7 months old now (I can't believe it!) and Savannah is getting ready to be 3 years old. They are so fun to watch grow up and interact. I'm so proud of my kids, they love eachother so much and that just makes me so happy.

So hmm... to catch everyone up...Our computer crashed. We lost everything on our hard drive. Which was very sad and stressful. I had the task of putting it all back on the computer which proved to be too much for me. So we hired a new book keeper. She was Joe's old boss's wife who did the books for their business. So she already knows the business and will be able to give us great insight. We're really excited. We've partied it up we went to a luau and a couple parades and the fair and now we're ready for fall.

Chase was our family's Big Kahuna at the ward luau.

Savannah watched the water balloon fight in disappointment when her water balloon broke before she could get in on the action.

They also had their very first bath together and it was quite an event. Savannah was so excited to have a buddy in the tub with her. Chase wasn't quite prepared for her enthusiasm but as often is the case he tried his best to be a good sport as she squealed and splashed. Adorable!

Last night we went to Music in the Park. Every thursday at 8pm at Claudia Driscoll park they are having a band of some kind play. Its so fun! Its been so fun to get out and feel part of the community I live in. Last week the Bitterroot Band played and this week the Kent Curtiss Band played. Savannah loves it she flits and dances all over the place and I even got up and jammed with her for a while. Chase loves it too he likes to stare off at the sky and listen. I think hes gonna be a deep thinker. We took our fun wagon and walked to the park and met some friends there and had some snacks. The kids wore themselves down and by the time it was over they were pooped. So on the walk home (they were in the wagon of course) Savannah and Chase wound down and were all ready for bed. It was a great evening....all except for one part...you know those fireman poles at play grounds that you slide down? Well there was a little boy in front of Savannah and she saw him step off the edge and go down. But I don't think she understood he was using the pole to slide down. She must of thought he just floated down somehow. Because she stepped off the edge didn't reach for the pole and landed on her back and bit her tounge. Oh she cried! And I was clear across the park feeding chase when it happened. I felt so bad.

Pass it on

I am always frusterated because it seems I can't find what I'm looking for online in the time I have to find it. Often this problem comes up when I am researching parenting questions or health concerns or whatever. Stuff that mommies need to know. So I have found a great resource in my friend Lindsey who does research on that kind of stuff for a living while raising a 2 year old boy at the same time. She has started a blog on her findings and I love it! She has it all organized and linked to her sources and her writing is a hoot to read. So informative as well as funny....can't ask for more. The link is http://mommy-multitasking.blogspot.com I highly recommend checking it out.

Stanek Masonry update...

A huge fireplace! Its hard to tell how big it is without someone in the picture. Way to go you guys its beautiful!

Our hardworking crew pulling out all the stops to make it look fantastic. They are actually inside a tent they constructed to keep themselves and the column they are working on warm. It gets pretty toasty in there.
Joe and Caleb...

And here is the newest member of our crew and hes doing great work! Travis!

Joe examining the fireplace now with a critical eye. You can see a little better how huge this thing is.

This is the front of the house. Those columns were built the same way, using a tent to keep them warm while the mud dried.

Thanks for all your amazing work guys! You rock!
I'm such a corn ball.

Stanek Masonry in action

Here is a huge house Joe has been working on for 2 years off and on! We're pretty impressed with how its turning out and wanted to share...actually Joe would be embarrassed that I'm sharing it he's humble like that.

I couldn't got the whole house in the shot without backing up lots... Thought I would include a picture of the hardworking men that have worked so hard on this house. The first is Joe, and the second is Caleb. Sorry Travis I'll get a picture of you next time!
This is going to be the grand entrance of the house after you come through the front door. Very fancy!

This is a wine room with an arched ceiling shown below...

Here is the arched ceiling its hard to get a good picture of it and even harder to do the work to get the brick up there.

Here is Caleb working on more of the grand entrance through the front door. You can see the big front doors behind Caleb.

This is going to be a bathroom I'm pretty sure. Amazing!

We're still working.... we'll keep you updated!

We're Having a Boy!!!

Its official! Baby Chase Joseph Stanek will be joining our family in just a few months!

I thought this picture was fitting...theres Savannah showing me some art work and theres Baby Chase riding around on my back. I suppose I find comfort in chaous! The only thing thats missing is Joe in the back ground asking me where his various tools are....ahhh home sweet home