Question #17

What lessons did you take as a child? Did you carry any over into adulthood?

I started dancing when I was very little. My Mom put me in dance lessons when I was three. I did tap, jazz, & ballet. I loved to dance. I was in the same class as my cousin Stacy, which made it even better. We had fun dancing together. My very favorite was tap. I loved the sounds you could make with your feet. When I was around 12 or 13 I started point ballet. That was seriously sooo hard. Your feet bleed & they ache so bad. I loved how graceful & pretty ballerinas look though. So elegant. When I was 12 years old, my Dad made me play softball. And I mean made me! I really did not want too. He wanted me too because that was one of the only years my sister & I could be on the same team. He was also our coach. For like the first half of the season, I was the player in the outfield picking flowers & not really paying attention. But as the season went on I got more & more into it. I realized it was really fun. By the end of the season I was the 2nd baseman & loving it. And I never looked back! When I was a freshman I had to decide to either go with the dancing on the Murray Dance Team or play softball on the Murray Softball team. I chose softball & I am so glad that I did. Not that I don't love dance, but I had such a great time with the girls I played ball with. We were so close & loved being together. We were really good too! I haven't continued any of these into my adulthood. I really want to start some of them back up. I might start some dance classes back up at the gym. And Riley keeps asking me to join a softball league. So we'll see. If you want to do them with me call me!!

Question #16

What would you like to be remembered for?

That's not an easy question. I would like to be remembered for a lot of things. I really want to be thought of as kind. Kindness is so important to me. I always try really hard to be kind & thoughtful to everyone. I want to make people feel happy & cherished. That is one of the reasons that I don't like rude sarcasm. I think it just hurts people's feelings. I want to uplift, not bring down. Having a really close family is also very important to me. I want to be remembered as being family oriented. Family first. Always. I want people to feel comfortable in coming to me. I want to be remembered as loyal & trustworthy. You can tell me anything & I'll keep it to myself. I think there are very few people that you can truly truly trust. I want to be one of those people. As David O. McKay said "To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved." I want to be full of love. I want others to feel the love that I have for them. Silly. I love to scare people. I want to be remembered for having a sense of humor. I love to laugh. Kobe & I love to watch America's Funniest Videos. We giggle the whole time! The last one I'll write is happy. When people think back on me, I want them to picture a smiling happy person. Faithful. I want people to think that I chose the right. I love our gospel. Even if I am only remembered for one of these things, that will be worth it. My very favorite quote is from our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. I try to live by it.

"Whatever you are, be a good one."

Question #15

What are your earliest memories?

The very earliest memory I have was from when I was two years old. I remember going camping with our whole family. We were in Memory Grove. Everyone decided to go on a hike together. They didn't want to take me along because I was so young so my Grandma Elody stayed back at camp with me. I am so glad that I have that memory. My Grandma didn't live that much longer. She died of cancer before I turned three. It really amazes me that I even remember that. I also remember visiting her in the hospital & she gave all the grandkids a stuffed heart pillow with a little puppy on them (except for Stacy, she gave a kitten). I remember the heart was red with lace around it. I wonder if anyone else remembers that?? Other early memories that I have are either camping or at ball games. One time when we were camping. I was probably five. All of us kids decided to go exploring. It was Bret, Jeremy, Jaci, Mindy, Ryan, & me. We got lost. Seriously. We were totally lost in the mountains. I just remember we kept walking & walking. We started hearing a horn going off, so we followed the sound. Amazingly, we found our way back. My parents were sounding their horn to help us figure out how to get back. Another time when we were camping. It was really early morning. All of a sudden we could hear a herd of animals walking through our camp. It was a whole herd of cows. How funny!! I also remember exploring around Ken Price ball field & Murray Park. We always had the funnest times there! What are your earliest memories?

Question #14

What's your favorite sport to watch during the Winter Olympics?

What a perfect question for today. The opening ceremonies for the Vancouver Winter Olympics is tonight. I love when it's Olympic time. I love how our country rallies together. The Olympics are so entertaining. It seems like we watch every night that it's on. By far, the Summer Olympics are my fave! I'm a little more picky with the winter sports. Ever since the Winter Olympics were here in Salt Lake City, I have loved them a little bit more though. Something about being able to actually be in the heart of it. We loved going to the Gateway & just experiencing it all. We got to go to some of the medal ceremonies/concerts. They were a lot of fun. Riley went & watched some bobsledding. The people from all over the world were so nice. Everyone was just happy to be here. Of all the events, my faves to watch are ice skating (don't make fun!) & snow boarding. I like to watch Shaun White--aka The Flying Tomato. He is so entertaining to watch. He has such a funny personality. The ice skating just simply interests me. Sure the costumes & music are a little cheeseball sometimes, but what they can do on the ice is am-a-zing!! I always get really tense when I'm watching them though. The fear of the fall. Hopefully our athletes can pull off some gold medal performances. I can't wait to watch. GO USA!!

Question #13

Describe your yard as a child. Did you help with the yard work?

I lived in the same house from when I was born until I got married. We always had plenty of space with whatever we wanted to do or play. Whether it was some sort of ball game, running through the sprinklers, or just being lazy on the grass. We had a park right across the street, so whenever we wanted we could go over there & play. My parents didn't really have us do that much with the yard work. We had the occasional weed pulling, dog duty, or planting flowers. My parents always had a very pretty yard. It was always very well taken care of. My favorite was always the planting. I love to see new flowers grow & bloom. I just love the beauty of it. It seems like every season they would plant something new to last throughout the months. I think they instilled in me a love of flowers. I just wish I could make my yard look as good as theirs! They now come over to my house & like to do little things for me. My Dad loves to come & edge my lawn. I love it because we don't have an edger. I am so thankful for the help. I can't wait for the warmer weather. I am so excited to plant some new flowers. I just love to be outside. I just wish it could be summer all year long!!

Question #12

What is your greatest joy? Your greatest sorrow?

Joy:
Easy. My greatest joy, by far, is being a Mother. Mommyhood is the very best feeling I have ever had. Nothing brings a happier feeling than when your little one says I love you. I look back at my time before I had Kobe & it's like a can't ever remember him not being around. He definitely completes my whole world. Even on the hard days, we always have so much fun. Everything about Kobe radiates joy for me. I love his laugh, imagination, fears, & his silliness. I just want to remember everything. Every moment that I get to have with my Kobe. I love being a Mom.

I'd rather be a mother than anyone on earth

Bringing up a child or two of unpretentious birth. . . .
I'd rather tuck a little child all safe and sound in bed

Than twine a chain of diamonds about my {carefree} head.

I'd rather wash a smudgy face with round, bright, baby eyes

Than paint the pageantry of fame or walk among the wise.

-Meredith Gray

Sorrow:
This one not so easy. Still a little fresh to talk a lot about. My greatest sorrow is not being able to have more kids. Not an easy topic. I really have only talked with my closest best friends/cousins about some things that I recently have discovered. I really wish that I could have had at least one more baby. I am so thankful for my peeps that have supported us & helped us through this difficult time. Even though this is not the outcome we were hoping for, I am just so happy that I have my boy. I am so lucky to have such a supportive spouse & family. Maybe one day I'll talk more about it. Time goes on & hopefully great things are in our future.

Question #11

Describe your most serious illness or accident that you have had.

Well I must say I truly have been very fortunate with my health. I have never had anything too serious. When I was a kid most of my accidents were a result of my crazy bike riding skills. I have totally mad skills!! I crashed & burned so many times. One time I was riding with my Mindy & Jaci. We came to a hill & decided to race down it. Not a good idea! I just remember looking down at my handlebars & they were going insane. Then I did a full on flip on my bike. I remember Jaci helping me up & we saw a man looking out his front window at us & he was totally laughing! Nothing is worse than being physically hurt & then humiliated. Then there was the time I cut my chin open after I crashed off my bike onto the rock in my front yard. My family still teases me about that one.

In February of my junior year, I started having some stomach problems. I would get really sick for like 3 or 4 days then I would feel better. My parents took me to the Dr. & they told me that I had too much acid in my stomach & they gave me some pills. Well months & months went on & every month I would get sick. It never went away. Finally in September of my senior year, we were getting ready to have my family b-day party. I remember everyone coming over & I couldn't even stand, I was sooo sick. As the night wore on, I got sicker & sicker. About 24 hours later my Mom got a call from my Aunt Jean telling her to take me to the ER. She thought I might have appendicitis. So my parents drove me over. The Dr. checked me out & he said my appendix was burst. I was in surgery not even an hour later. The last thing I remember before going out was the Dr. & nurses singing me Happy Birthday. When I was in my room a couple hours later, I remember being so out of it. I made friends with my nurse (well loopy me did), he was a young guy. Don't ask me why, but I kept calling him my Oriental Friend. And he wasn't even Oriental. I was so weird! The next day all the nurses came in my room with a candle in a muffin & they all sang me Happy B-day. Good times!!

One of the sickest I have been since I have been married was when I was due with Kobe. I swelled up really really big. My eyes were HUGE! After Kobe was born, the nurses kept coming in & looking at me the weirdest ways. I didn't understand what was going on. When they let me get up the next day & I saw myself in the mirror, I was completely shocked. It totally looked like I have been beaten up. My face was so so swollen. They called in an eye specialist to come & help me out. He gave me some meds & I started to go back to normal in a couple of days. I also was allergic to the morphine they gave me for the c-section. I was sick to my stomach & very itchy!!

I am just so thankful that those are the worst of the worst for me. I have been very fortunate. I am very thankful for everything that I have been blessed with.

Question #10

Do you have a favorite author? Who? Why? Tell about your favorite books as a child & as an adult.

I love to read. I read all sorts of books. Every genre. Every style. I also love to read trashy magazines (Does that even count??). Biographies are very interesting to me. I think it is so interesting reading about people's lives. Some are really inspiring & uplifting. I don't think I have a specific favorite author though. There are too many good writers to pick just one. My favorite book to read is:

I read To Kill A Mockingbird for the first time when I was in ninth grade. I have read it multiple times since. I love the characters. Scout, Jem, Dill, Atticus, & Boo are such interesting characters. I think it teaches love, respect, empathy, & so many others things. *Fun fact: This was Harper Lee's (the author) first & only novel.

I also loved the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling's is such an imaginative author. Those books were so entertaining. The detail was so cool. I really hope she comes out with some new books.

Who doesn't love Twilight, right?? I was sucked in from the first sentence. Go Team Jacob!! Even though I'm a Jacob fan, I still think Bella & Edward belong together. I thought these books just flowed really well. Easy read.

Who remembers these??

I love love loved these books. I read every single one. I can still name all the babysitters (& Mary Ann's boyfriend!).

And what about these:

This cover makes me laugh. I totally remember reading these & thinking they were so pretty. How funny!!

If you have a favorite book, let me know. I am always looking for my next read!