Twenty-Six

I have been thinking of this litle diddy all day:

Happy Birthday to you
You live in a zoo
You look like a monkey
And you smell like one too.

Today, I feel that was penned just for me.

It's official. I'm on the "back end" of my twenties. Sliding faster and faster toward thirty. Oh, dear.

What I want for my birthday: Eight hours of uninterrupted, deep sleep.
What I'm getting: Another move. To Dallas. Texas. Yep, it's true. We've decided to accept the residency position offerred to Adam at Baylor-Garland and we'll be moving sometime in the next few weeks (after the holidays, as per my gentle command). I'll likely write more about that in the coming days, when it (hopefully) sinks in a little bit.

And now, 26 things about myself (this will hopefully excuse me from ever making a "100 Things about me"):

1. I always answered "a teacher" when asked what I'd like to be when I grew up, although deep down all I wanted to be was a mother and a wife.
2. Marriage and motherhood is so much harder than I thought it would be. I'm pretty sure I would've made a better teacher ;)
3. I have to have socks on when I sleep. This drives my husband crazy. (crazy in a bad way, not a good way)
4. Most of my pet peeves relate to driving. Like people that can't drive and have no business operating a car that turns into a weapon when they are behind the wheel. That is a pet peeve of mine. More minor ones include talking on the phone while driving, tailgating, and stopping at a yield sign. I have an idea for an invention that is a mandatory phone or walkie-talkie in every car that you can call from your car and chew someone out. I think it's going to make me millions.
5. My great passion in life is photography. I think about it constantly, especially while I am driving. I am usually trying to find a great place to take pictures, or I am thinking about my latest work and thinking about how to improve it. I haven't had many photo shoots in Canada, but the reasons are too personal for a blog. But I think I am really good and I also think that my potential has yet to be unleashed on the world. Look out world.
6. I am sarcastic pretty much all the time. That makes it really hard to blog, because you can't read sarcasm.
7. My lists are a little too wordy.
8. My husband and I met at a singles ward Valentine dance in San Antonio, Texas. He knew that night that we were going to be married. I didn't know, however, which made it a little awkward when he told me on our second date. Let's just say that he's lucky that there was a third date.
9. I believe that our greatest blessings are also, by nature, our greatest challenges. I really, truly believe that nothing worthwhile comes easily (I know, that is SO cliche, but it's also true).
10. I went to BYU for a short time in 2000. I failed nearly every class and that was because my social hours were from 11 pm to 5 am. Every night. I am not joking, although my parents wish I was. I have never been more irresponsible, and I loved every minute of it.
11. My most prized earthly possession is my wedding ring. Adam picked out the stone specifically for me because it is a unique square-shaped diamond with a star cut inside. He explained it this way when he proposed: "This star represents you. You are my north star." It is probably the most romantic thing he has ever said to me. I think of that every time I look at my ring. I positively, absolutely love my wedding ring.
12. All of my grandparents are still alive, and I was fortunate enough to know five of my great-grandparents. I am very, very blessed when it comes to family. I love each of my special, wonderful relatives and get teary-eyed just thinking of how much they mean to me.
13. My favorite dessert is creme brulee. Mmmmm...
14. I used to imagine that I was always on TV, that people were always watching me. As a child, if I were doing the dishes, I would inevitably be in a commercial where my charm was used to sell dish soap. It's probably a good thing that my parents never caught on to how much I love(d) attention. They might have let me try acting, and then who know where I'd be?!! I could have been Lindsay Lohan. So thanks, Mom and Dad.
15. If I have a choice, I will usually buy jewelry or shoes or a purse. That is because these are the only things that I don't get depressed looking at the size. It's a fat girl thing.
16. I used to love the snow. That was when I lived in Texas and snow was a novelty. Then I moved to a place where it snows a lot, and I have had to scrape the windows in my car, and wear sensible winter shoes, and try not to fall every time I walk outdoors. Snow is no longer a friend of mine.
17. My favorite vacation spot is Mexico, likely because I really haven't been anywhere else. I loved the Playa del Carmen, where Adam and I honeymooned. Mostly because we were on our honeymoon. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to go there as "seasoned" married people. People who sleep for fun at night. Hmm.
18. I love, love, love that my boys both have my blue eyes. My eyes are the only thing I've ever been vain about. And, luckily for me, my best feature will not get fat, get saggy, or fade. I feel pretty lucky about that.
19. I am a stickler for table manners. It drives me crazy when people don't follow the simple ones. It has always bothered me that Adam doesn't stand up when a lady arrives at or leaves the table. But I realize that I did not marry a southern gentleman cowboy who studied manners and ettiquette (oh man I cannot spell that) just for fun. Oh well, he has other, more important qualities. If he read this, he'd probably ask me if the Savior would do it. If the Savior would not do it, then neither will he. And he's got me there.
20. My favorite quote is this: "Greatness is best measured by how well an individual responds to the happenings in life that appear to be totally unfair, unreasonable and undeserved." (Elder Marvin J. Ashton) I have tried to be great.
21. I have been blessed to know some of the most wonderful, Christ-like people in all the world. That has been the greatest consequence of all our moves.
22. I am still in touch with most of my high school friends and they continue to be some of the most amazing people I've ever met. I'll always be grateful for those friendships that stand the test of time.

23. I am totally addicted to Diet Coke. Well, not addicted, but I sure do love the stuff---the glorious, teeth-rotting, headache-inducing, up-all-night, delicious stuff.

24. (this is getting hard to think of things!) My worst quality: I cannot keep a clean house to save my life. My best quality: Hmm. I'll have to get back to you on that.

25. My favorite ways to spend "me" time: photography, scrapbooking, enjoying (not creating) beautiful art, and I love the great outdoors. I love rock climbing too, indoors or out.

26. Drum roll, please.... The greatest gifts I've ever received were people, not things. Well, people and my Nikon D200. That was also a really great gift.

Whew! Is anyone still reading after all that?!? haha