32

quilt made by my sister Clair, given to me for my 30th birthday

1. I am a 4th of July baby.
2. I share my birthday with my sister, Clair. She is 2 years older than me.
3. Growing up, we both hated sharing a birthday. Now we both think it is pretty cool.
4. My sister and I have celebrated only a handful of birthdays apart.
5. I have been married for almost 10 years.
6. My husband is great-for one, he brings balance to my life.
7. I went to school for Graphic Arts.
8. I worked in a printing company for 7 years.
9. I quit my job when my oldest child was born.
10. I love Mexican and Chinese food.
11. I like to cook.
12. I like to eat.
13. I am one of 6 kids.
14. I am the fourth child and the youngest girl.
15. I was the first of my siblings to get married.
16. I am a perfectionist.
17. I have outlived my mother. (She died 18 days before her 32nd birthday.)
18. I was 5 years old when she passed away.
19. My dad raised all 6 kids.
20. He never remarried.
21. Now that I have children of my own, respect for my dad has increased dramatically.
22. I grew up on a dairy farm.
23. I hated it then, but am thankful for it now.
24. Being a stay at home mom is the hardest job I have ever had.
25. I have become a homebody over the past few years.
26. I am a control freak.
27. I have a type A personality.
28. It isn’t difficult for me to make new friends.
29. I tend to be frugal.
30. I love to create things.
31. I love to blog.
32. My favorite color is PINK.

In honor of my birthday, I will be doing a give-away. I’m not sure what the prize will be yet, but I will draw a name from all commenters on Saturday, July 7th.
Please comment only once. Thank you.

Happy Independence Day!
And Happy Birthday, Clair. I like sharing a birthday with you.

downs and ups

For those of you wondering, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I just moved to Wisconsin, but it kinda feels like a close second. I don't have internet connection at home yet and the withdrawal is severe. Severe, I tell ya'.

We are trying to adjust to apartment life with 3 kids. It's harsh. My husband was ready for a break from all the screaming and whining from the kids before we even ate dinner tonight. My daughter must be teething or something. The boys run (what kid doesn't???) in the apartment and the cranky old man living below us was already complaining about us before we signed our lease paperwork. Sounds like fun, no? Thankfully the property manager is really, really nice.

The upside of things:

I drove through Chicago for my first time ever last week. That is HUGE for me. I can barely ride in the passenger's seat through the city-I am a nervous wreck in all that traffic. But I actually drove through it. During the day. And I even changed lanes once! I don't think I'll make a habit of it, but it is something that I never thought I would be able to do. So yay!

I finished my crocheted rag rug.

It's a little bit wonky. But I really like how it turned out. I estimate that I recycled about 15-20 t-shirts. About half of them or more were kids shirts.

The library has wireless internet, which is great.

I finally got to sew today, for the first time in 5 days.

I am having a little alone time for the first time in weeks. Bliss.

This moving and upsetting the delicate balance we had going is not for the faint of heart.