100 Facts

I saw this idea on my sisters blog. The idea is to write 100 facts about yourself so people who don't know you and look at your blog will have some idea of who you are. Really I don't think many people will take the time to read 100 facts about me but I kind of wanted to see if I can come up with that many things.


1. I am the first girl after 6 boys.
2. I have 7 brothers and 2 sisters.
3. I think all of my kids have neat birthdays. Natalie's is my 1/2 birthday, Ella's is the same day as Eric's grandmas and Cameron's is the same day as Eric's moms and is 05/06/07.
4. I have an unhealthy fear of heights and bridges.
5. I don't like vegetables but I love artichokes.
6. Abe Lincoln and I share a birthday.
7. I always wished I had blond hair and blue eyes.
8. My younger brother knocked out one of my teeth with the plastic hose attachment from the vacuum. I now have a fake tooth.
9. I drink cocoa just about every single day.
10. When I was little I got mad and ran away to the forest in our yard. I think I was gone maybe 30min and no one noticed so I went inside.
11. My middle name is my moms first name, Mary.
12. My freshman year of college I fainted in health class with about 200 people when they were showing pictures of animal bites. Hey because of me class got out early!
13. I faint when I give blood, but not because of the needle. I faint and have some type of seizure because my body treats it as a trauma.
14. I have had the same best friend my entire life.
15. My Dad is proud that I manage all the money. That makes me happy.
16. I graduated Summa Cum Laude when I was 7 months pregnant.
17. My favorite season is spring. I love when the leaves come back on all the trees and all the flowers.
18. I have never broken a bone.
19. I only go to the doctor when I am pregnant or need a prescription. Not a fan of those places.
20. Baking is more fun because I like eating the result more.
21. Diet Dr. Pepper is my favorite thing to drink.
22. Chiara double pierced my ears at Tiffany's house with a needle. My mom didn't notice for a week. Then she was not happy. I never wear earrings anymore.
23. I used to be so tan I was once mistake for being of a different ethnicity.
24. My favorite flowers are tulips and I don't like getting roses.
25. In 7th grade I got glasses and thought that I had super vision because I could see all the leaves on the trees. Then Tiffany told me "I can see all of them too."
26. My favorite job as a kid was mowing the lawn. We had a riding lawn mower and it was almost like driving a car.
27. I am currently in the middle of a lawsuit.
28. Shopping for my kids is fun. Shopping for myself is a pain.
29. I hardly ever wear my hair up because I think I look funny.
30. I had a crush on my high school math teacher.
31. I have never gotten a ticket. I did get pulled over once because my break lights weren't working. The police officer was not nice and made me cry.
32. When I was little I told my brothers I was going to live with my parents forever. They laughed.
33. I went to the worlds fair in BC when I was 7. Expo '86! That was my only time out of the country.
34. I tend to be a bit sarcastic. Just a bit.
35. I am shy until I get to know people.
36. I gained the freshman 15 with a lot of help from Dining Plus.
37. I purchased two items from infomercials. They were crap. In my defense one was at like 2 am with Tiffany.
38. My mom made my breakfast and lunch until I graduated from high school.
39. My first car was an '86 blue Volvo.
40. I danced in the Nutcracker three times with a professional dance company.
41. My daughter got second place in a beautiful baby contest and I got concert tickets.
42. When I was in 5th grade a new department store opened and they were giving away prizes. My brothers and I entered for the bike. Since it was a boys bike I told them they could have it if I won. I won. I kept that sweet bike for myself.
43. When I would sleepover at my grandmas and she was out of milk should would soften vanilla ice cream to put with the fruit loops. It was good. Now you want to go try it. You should, its good. 44. I only buy fruit snacks for my kids lunches because if I buy cookies I eat them all.
45. I had a 9 1/2 lb baby. Not by c-section!
46. I straighten my hair everyday.
47. I have lived in Portland almost all of my life but I don't know my way around downtown.
48. In first grade I fully believed that the kid next to me could draw so well because of his crayons. I really thought I needed to get those crayons so I could draw like that!
49. I have never had cable tv.
50. My first job was at Hallmark. I liked to read all the mushy cards and pretend that boys I liked would get them for me.
51. My brothers and I would set the alarm for 3 am on Christmas morning and get up and see what Santa had brought us.
52. I have to be at least 10 minutes early or I stress out.
53. I don't like to watch movies more than once.
54. When I was at BYU I wanted to get a job in the laundry because I used to love folding clothes. Now I fold so many clothes I laugh to think about those days.
55. When I would do the ironing as a kid I would pretend I was Cinderella.
56. I took piano lessons and hated practicing, but would love to have a piano now.
57. I had a dogs, cats, a guinea pig and a bunny when I was little but will most likely never have pets now. This relates to my current lawsuit.
58. My favorite color is blue.
59. All of my siblings and I have graduated from college.
60. One of my brothers is a firefighter and one is a police officer.
61. My parents have 19 grandchildren.
62. My sisters are twins, my uncles are twins and my niece and nephew are twins. I was always worried I was going to have twins. Dodged the bullet with that one.
63. I dream of going some place tropical.
64. I can't stand clutter so I probably throw away more than I should.
65. I didn't get a cell phone until I was 29.
66. I blog to keep track of things my kids do. It makes me feel better about not keeping a journal. 67. I love to take pictures but hate to be in pictures.
68. I took three years of French and pretty much don't remember a thing.
69. I used to want to be a math teacher.
70. Speaking in front of a group puts an unhealthy level of stress on me. Maybe I could get a doctor's note and get out of any future assignments. Then I would have to go to the doctor so I guess that wouldn't work.
71. I sold over 200 boxes of Girl Scout cookies one year.
72. One of my dance recitals was on cable tv.
73. I work part time at Gymboree.
74. I run to clear my head, work out problems, relieve stress and escape. I like to run by myself at night the best, with good music of course.
75. I would rather have a personal chef than a cleaning lady, but would take both. And maybe a landscaper and a nanny and a personal trainer and a stylist.
76. My mom was adamant that I went by Elizabeth. Only my brothers and Chiara call me Liz. My mom loves that.
77. My favorite cookies are Mexican wedding cakes. I used to sneak these at Christmas time because I could fit the whole thing in my mouth.
78. In my head I sing really well. Out loud, not so much.
79. I believe chocolate has healing powers.
80. I have a brother that lives in Hershey, PA.
81. Before I had kids I wanted 6 kids. I think three is good.
82. I am really sensitive, maybe too sensitive.
83. I like to do jigsaw puzzles.
84. I got knocked over when I was ice skating 10 years ago and my wrist has never been the same.
85. I have a dimple in each cheek.
86. I don't like the food at fancy restaurants.
87. Round Table has the best pizza and the best breadsticks.
88. I have three kids. Natalie (6), Ella (4 in a few weeks) and Cameron (2 in May).
89. I sneak candy into the movies.
90. I believe my friends can get me through anything.
91. I love my ipod.
92. I scar really easily, physically and emotionally.
93. My mom always had fun birthday parties at home for us and I want to do the same for my kids. They want them at fun places.
94. I get migraines.
95. I know all the High School Musical songs. Fabulous!
96. Someday I really want to get Lasik but I am scared about going blind.
97. You know when you go to the ER of hospital and they have you rate your pain on a scale of 1-10, I hate that scale, too much pressure.
98.Before I had kids I never was afraid of flying. Now I am.
99. I love the smell of my kids after a bath with Baby Magic.
100. I am a total planner and find it difficult to accept when things don't go according to plan.

Merry Christmas!

The best shot of all three in their Christmas best. We love you all and hope you have a wonderful Christmas. And Happy Birthday to my Mom!

Who Stole the Cookie from the Counter?

I don't think anything about the fact that all of our kitchen chairs are lying on the ground until a visitor will ask "What's with your chairs?". Well they are all lying on the ground because Cameron likes to push them across the kitchen to either play with the CD player, get into the butter, give him a boost up to the counter or open the microwave. Today something occurred to him that had yet to occur to me. There are other chairs! Ok I knew we had other chairs, but I thought since they were in other rooms we were safe. Turns out I was wrong. I walk into the kitchen to find that Cameron had pushed one of the chairs from the girls' little table into the kitchen to help himself to some of the cookies I had been baking.

Oh no I've been discovered!

These are good!

Decorating the Tree

The girls and Eric did the tree all by themselves this year. I am usually very particular about the lights so I do it myself, but I had a migraine that day and the girls were DyInG to decorate. Unlike my friends, we won't name names, (Huston, Tx & West Jordan, UT) I have not redecorated it once! They seemed to have had such a good time they feel the need to redecorate it everyday. I have been impressed by Cameron's ability to not bug it too much. I really thought he would be pulling the tree over, breaking ornaments or trying to pull all the lights off, but for the most part leaves it alone. We have had some ornaments suffer terrible casualties from the constant redecorating. For example the cute Woody that is in the first picture with Natalie now only has one foot.

Getting the Tree

I have great memories of going to cut down the tree as a kid. My siblings and I would hide between all the trees, use random objects to mark potential selections, even climb some of them. I am sure the tree farmers did not love us. There have been times I am tempted to get an artificial tree, but I think these memories keep me going because I hope my kids will have some great ones too. Unfortunately this year my camera battery was dead so we had to settle for the camera phone. Not the greatest picture, but you get the idea. I actually think we ended up getting a different tree too.

Let It Snow!

One of the many great things about living in Oregon is that when it snows, everything stops. Today we woke up and the snow started falling about 8:00. By 8:30 we got a call from the Elder's Quorum that church had been canceled. Most people in Portland stay home and enjoy the snow and break from life. Only the ocassional car will go by with someone feeling the need to use the 4 wheel drive they never get to. I imagine my Dad thought of some reason he had to go out today. It is forcasted to only be in the 20's for the next few days so hopefully the snow will stick around. It is also great dry fluffy snow, not the typical wet stuff we get. Here are a few pictures from this morning. We have even more snow now since it has been coming down all day. It is fun to see the girls out there having fun and it brings back memories of growing up and enjoying the occasional snow day.

Cameron and I stayed inside since we both have colds.

7 Things Tag

7 random things

.....7 things I can do....
-type fast
-play the piano
-carry Ella and Cameron from the car to the store at the same time
-run fast if I have the right music
-talk on the phone for an hour without realizing it
-get three kids and myself ready and out the door before 7:30
-put up with really annoying customers

.....7 things I can't do.....
-sing
-go to Target and not buy something
-read without falling asleep
-spell- it's genetic, I get it from my Dad :)
-see without my contacts
-drive without music
-sew

.....7 things I always say.....
-Listen the first time
-Hurry up we need to go
-You are so cute!
-Take a breath
-Wash your hands
-I love you
-We don't tease

.....7 things I always eat.....
-chocolate
-cereal
-Diet Dr. Pepper (you are so right Candice)
-Cocoa with marshmallows
-anything from the bread group
-anything Mexican
-almost anything I don't have to cook

.....7 people I tag.....
-Tiffany
-Chiara
-Joanna
-Michelle
-Jill
-Jennifer
-Wendy

It's All About the Accessories

The other morning Eric woke up (lucky me was still sleeping from working a really late night) to find Ella looking like this.

I think I am training him well because he grabbed the camera to capture the moment! Ella, the child who NEVER wants her hair combed, let alone some bow or clip in it, had all of the headbands we own on. Looks somewhat like a turban to me.

Right now she loves the song "So What" by Pink. She calls it the camp rock song. When it comes on the radio she will sing "I am a rock star, I've go my rock clothes" She also loves the part "He's gonna start a fight! We're gonna get in a fight!"

I asked her what she wanted for Christmas and this was her reply "Sparkaly stuff for my body." Me: Oh yeah, what kind of sparkaly stuff? Ella: Like make up and jewels!

What will this girl come up with next.

I Have Been Tagged

My friend Candice tagged me so here it is.....

This post is in honor of the "I Love Your Blog Award." I now have to answer each of the questions with a one word answer.

1. Where is your phone? pocket
2. Where is your significant other? garage
3.Your hair color? brown
4. Your Mother? Portland
5. Your Father? Portland
6. Your favorite thing? chocolate
7. Your dream last night? work
8. Your dream/goal? happiness
9. The room you're in? office
10. Your hobby? blogging
11. Your fear? death
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? happy
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you're not? musical
15. One of your wish-list items? treadmill
16. Where you grew up? Portland
17. The last thing you ate? red vines
18. What are you wearing? jeans
19. Your TV? garage
20. Your pet? dead
21. Your computer? addictive!
22. Your mood? tired
23. Missing someone? always
24. Your car? Odyssey
25. Something you're not wearing? shoes
26. Favorite store? target
27. Your Summer? beach
28. Love someone? yes!
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? today

I now award six people the "I Love Your Blog Award."
Tiffany, Chiara, Joanna, Abra, Jenni, Jen

Commonwealth Duck Pond

This summer my sister and I took Ella and Cameron to a duck pond that I went to many times as a little kid. I have great memories of taking a bag full of bread crust to feed the ducks. We loaded up the car with the kids and bread and off we went. Ella had so much fun feeding them. The ducks were crazy! Word seemed to spread that we had bread and they were coming from all over to get in on the goods. There are also a few really large geese that are at the pond, but I keep my kids away from those mean guys. They are not friendly animals and will snap and anyone. It is a beautiful park with a fun playground for the kids.

A few of the dozens of ducks fighting for the bread.

Flying in from across the pond for some food. We did notice as we were leaving the pond the sign that said NOT TO FEED THE DUCKS. Oops. :)

The mark on his forehead is residue from a sticker that my sister put on him DAYS before. It was not easy to get off. Love ya Joanna!

Cameron was really into eating the rocks.

Go Panthers!

Natalie played soccer for the first time this year. She was on a team with her good friend Madelynn and I think they had a lot of fun together. I was really excited for her to play because I have so many great memories of my soccer days. I think Natalie's favorite part was the social aspect. There were times I would have to say, "Natalie stop holding Madelynn's hand and go after the ball." She became a bit nervous around the ball after it smacked her in the face one game, but she did really well at throw ins and kept trying.

Mr. Mischief

Cameron has lots of fun getting or trying to get into things. The other day I was in the bathroom fixing Natalie's hair for school. Cameron thinks it is a treat to be in there since as soon as he starts playing in the toilet I put him in the hallway and close the door. On this day he had skipped past the toilet and climbed into the tub. I was thinking well at least he isn't in the toilet and no big deal. Guess what he figured out how to do. Yep, turn on the water. You will notice he is only half dressed since getting his diaper on is enough of a challenge so usually the pants get on a bit later. He was having a blast splashing in the water.

The look he gave me when he realized I saw what he was doing. "Dang, she caught me!"
This is so fun mom! You would think he never had a bath. Maybe it is more fun with clothes.

Making sure he gets his feet washed. He also did his hair.

Misc. Disney Photos....

in case you didn't get enough! Ella intently studying the map.
Both parks were decorated so cute for Halloween.

All of us at California Adventure.

I was trying to recreate a picture I took with Tiffany when I went with her to Disneyland in 5th grade. Didn't quite work out as I planned and there were actually people in the exact spot, but this was pretty close.

Dumbo was a big hit, but always had long lines.

Ella and her pillows. I think there are seven!

The girls watching a movie back at the hotel.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

The Rides

The girls loved the rides and since I am not a "thrill ride" type of girl Disneyland is my level. I love all the mountain rides because they are just enough for me with out giving me a panic attack. The girls seems to be more like me when it comes to rides, but Natalie did go on Thunder Mountain with me and Ella went on Space Mountain with Eric (she held on for dear life the whole time, but only teared up at the end). Other than that we stuck to the easier rides. Eric and I went to Disneyland a few years ago and I thought I would try the California Screamin' roller coaster because Eric loves those kinds of rides. Yeah, thought I would die! So when my 8 year old niece wanted to go I was impressed. She was awesome and went on it twice! That is not a Randall trait. We did keep to some of the Randall traditions: riding the train around the park first, the Tiki room (which the girls loved!) and the Jungle cruise. Unfortunatly Small World was closed. The carousel- Ella's favorite aside from Dumbo.

The worlds slowest bumper cars!

The girls LOVED the tea cups. We did them many times!

Alice in Wonderland

The new Finding Nemo (the old submarine ride)

I love this picture! She was just in awe on some of the rides. So cute!

Disneyland- The Characters

At the beginning of October Eric and I took the girls to Disneyland. My parents were so nice to keep Cameron with them for the week. The weather was great (80's and 90's) and while it wasn't summer busy, it was still pretty busy because it turned out that it was Arizona's fall break and southern California schools had Thursday and Friday off. The girls had a great time and are ready to go back. After many failed attempts to see characters we finally were able to get pictures with many of them. Ella didn't want her picture taken at all and especially not with the characters, but there were a few times we lucked out. We were able to have dinner at Ariel's Grotto and had 5 princesses come to our table. Ella would only get in the pictures if I held her. She is for sure my daughter that way. :)