Facebook Tag- 25 random things about me

1- I was very shy as a child- I didn't talk to my kindergarten teacher until the year was half over. At that point, she was shocked to find out that I could already read very well.

2- In 1998, I went into the hospital to have my second baby. I came home with two- giving me 3 children under the age of 2. And no, I don't feel like reliving that time of my life.

3- I have a degree in Early Childhood Education/El Ed, but I have only ever taught preschool. I started BYU as a music major, but quickly became intimidated by the amazing child prodigies in the program.

4- A few years ago, I was one of 5 families who created a "food group" in which we each took a day of the week and cooked for everyone, delivering it to their houses before dinner. It was awesome. I still miss it sometimes!

5- I lived in 8 different places before I graduated from high school. (Salt Lake City, Salinas, CA, Texas, Germany, Long Beach, Forest Grove, OR, Walla Walla, WA, and Woodland Park, CO).

6- I love to read. Probably too much. I have been known to read while vacuuming, while showering, and while riding a bike (those last two were when I was a kid. Don't worry- I don't read while I drive.)

7-I like to cook and bake. Except at dinnertime- then I'm not so crazy about it. Cooking for my family is great, but my favorite people ever to cook for were the missionaries in the Azores- THEY knew how to eat!

8- I have never broken a bone, had stitches, or been hospitalized, except to have my kids.

9- I spend too much time on the computer, and facebook isn't helping that. How did we survive before the internet?

10- I love walking. Running, not so much.

11- I am the oldest of 8 children.

12- I served a mission in Duesseldorf, Germany. That was 15 years ago. My German is no longer great, as I discovered this past fall on our trip there. The Turkish cab driver spoke better German than I did. Sad.

13- Despite having lingering shyness issues, I love to talk/give lessons in church, and I don't even mind singing or playing the piano in public.

14- I am easily distracted. The only way I can spend any real time cleaning the house is to listen to an audiobook. If I have something else to think about, I get lots done!

15- I have a hard time driving long distances- I always feel like I'm falling asleep, although it has never actually happened. Maybe I'm still trying to make up sleep for all those years of interrupted nights?

16- I never missed a day in four years of early morning seminary.

17- My first non-babysitting job as a teenager was cleaning an office where they made dentures. After that, I worked at McDonald's. Exciting stuff.

18- Tim and I knew each other before I went on my mission- but I thought he was weird.

19- When I was growing up, relatives used to tell me that I looked like my Grandpa. Not the most complimentary thing to tell a teenage girl.

20- Okay, this is a weird one, and I'm not sure I can explain it. Ever since I was in second grade or so, when I'm driving or reading, my brain assigns point values to each word depending on if there is an "i" or a "t" in the word. An "i" is worth 4, a "t" is worth 3, and a word without one of those letters is worth 2. I count it on my right hand. Weird, right? I don't know how that got started or why I still do it.

21- I have never gone off a high dive. When I was about 8, my teacher at swimming lessons made me climb the ladder and walk out to the end of the board. I still wouldn't jump. He passed me anyway.

22- I don't have my ears pierced. I have also never dyed my hair, which is starting to become obvious.

23- By some miracle (or mistake, probably), I made it to the State competition in Lincoln-Douglas Debate my senior year of high school. I only cared because I wanted to go with all my friends. I also made it into All-State Choir, although I think I actually earned that one.

24- I alternate between thinking that my family of 6 children isn't very big, and wondering how I can ever keep track of my 83 kids, depending on how noisy they are currently.

25- I like to think I'm in charge, but Tim is definitely the solid, steadying force in our marriage. He lets me run around organizing and making decisions, and then steps in to fix things when I crash. We make a good team.