50 special moments in 2009

1. Running my first 5K and almost dying in the process
2. Parker being pretty much the chubbiest baby I've ever seen
3. Parker learning to crawl
4. Successfully implementing cloth diapers
5. Lots and lots of running
   
6. Still not having all our doors properly installed in our home (we've lived here 3 years)
   
7. Going to the zoo with Parker. He didn't care too much, but I had fun.
   
8. Matt losing 36 lbs in 13 weeks and winning the title of biggest loser
   
9. "Vacationing" at the Grand Canyon and by vacationing I mean "boot camp"
10. Sharing a pork salad at cafe rio. . . a lot (did you know they give you a free "kid's quesadilla?)
    
11. Still being just as in love as the day we got married (actually, more in love)
    
12. Taking Parker up in the mountain often, and exposing him to climbing early
13. Did I mention I ran a lot?
    
14. Taking Parker swimming for the first time. He didn't like it at first.
    
15. Running my first half marathon in 2:05 at Bear Lake and NOT almost dying from it. Best Race Ever.
    
16. Matt redpointing his first 5.12
17. Going to the Temple almost but not quite once a month (maybe more like every 2 months)
    
18. Even more rock climbing
19. Piano students stealing Matt's ipod...and my favorite piano book. grrrr
    
20. Hanging with Matt's family in St. George
21. Redpointing a 5.9
    
22. Parker pointing at everything. Literally everything.
23. Doing a little photography on the side
    
24. Matt's promotion to Senior Accountant even though he doesn't have his degree yet (coming this May!)
    
25. Singing a song I wrote to the Young Women while playing the guitar. Scary.
    
26. Climbing with my best friend to the top of the Grand Teton and almost dying in the process
    
27. Reaching the car after we finished the Grand Teton
28. Attempting to "go organic"... ok, it's a small attempt, but I'm still working on it
    
29. Accepting a new job to teach the science fair class at AMES
30. Wishing I hadn't accepted a new job to teach the science fair class at AMES (even though I like it... most of the time)
31. Getting the biggest kisses from my little boy
    
32. Crossing the finish line at the top of Utah Marathon and almost dying in the process
33. Parker learning to walk (0r wobble. However you want to look at it.)
    
34. Parker turning 1 and having his first birthday party with family and friends (what a popular little guy)
35. Sewing my Halloween costume and having the cutest Toy Story family ever
    
36. Being called as the Young Women President just when I thought my life was busy enough
37. Matt being called, the very next week, to be the Executive Secretary even though his life is busier than mine
    
38. Parker swallowing my wedding ring
    
39. The very next week, Parker swells up like a balloon because of a peanut allergy
40. Matt learning and implementing the concept of "barefoot running"
41. Dancing in the kitchen with the cutest kid I know
    
42. Giving up on cooking dinner for practically the whole month of december
    
43. Parker learning to talk "ba ba ba ba..."
44. Matt achieving "Employee of the Year" for the accounting department
    
45. Parker's fear of action figures
    
46. Having the opportunity to participate in the "Sub for Santa" for our ward and feeling the gratitude of others
    
47. Matt's first bouldering competition and taking 5th in his division
    
48. Giving Parker tons of gifts for Christmas and him loving the cheap "hit the ball with a hammer" one I got from walmart for, like, 10 bucks
    
49. Watching Movies in "The New Room"
50. Continuing to live "happily ever after" one day at a time
    

Must Read

Please read this article about Stephanie Nielson who survived a plane crash. She is so inspirational. I first learned about her by reading her blog.

She inspires me to focus on my most important role in this life, which is motherhood. I have a tendency to try to be everything to everybody. I also hate mediocrity, so I try to be the best at everything, which I've learned from experience, is impossible. The more things I try to do, the more mediocre I become at all of them. "Jack of all trades, but master of none."

When I read her blog, I don't care about anything else except for my role as a mother and a wife. When everything is said and done, it doesn't matter how many cool things I have done. When I leave this life, all I will have with my on the other side is my family. So I better do good job of taking care of my family. I love my son and husband so much. They are everything to me.

Sometimes my brain doesn't work

This is for you, Tamara...

So I was pretty stressed out last Sunday. It was "Young Women in Excellence" and I just happen to be the Young Women's President. Fortunately I have great councilors, advisors, and a great secretary. But, nonetheless, I get super stressed about things like this. In fact, all I could dream about the night before the event was about how everything would go wrong. I was tossing and turning, probably muttering things like "Oh, no. We forgot 'Integrity.'"

So one of the things I was in charge of making was tags for each of the values. I tried to make them really cute by gluing the name of the value onto a pretty rectangle of glittery, rainbow scrapbook paper and then gluing that onto a white piece of cardstock folded in half. My husband was laughing at me while I was meticulously cutting and gluing. I'm sure he was thinking something like, "If men were in charge of this, they would just scribble the words on a piece of lined paper, rip it out the notebook and fold it in half so it would sort of stand up."

At the time, I didn't think much of it, but some reason, the paper didn't stick very well.

I went to the church early and started setting up with my whole young women posse and I put the tags out. My secretary, Tamara, mentioned that we needed glue because some of the names were falling off. I get all proud of myself, for being prepared, and pulled out the gluestick. Tamara takes one look at it and starts laughing. "That's chapstick!"

Yes, I tried to glue paper together using chapstick. It worked surprisingly better than you think it would.

Besides the whole using lip moisturizer as an adhesive, the event went really well. Even though I get stressed out because of my responsibilities as the Young Women's President, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve. I was so proud of all of the young women.

Jung-Myers-Briggs Personality Type

I love a good personality test. Who doesn't? I think all of us like to be validated.

I recently took the Jung-Myers-Briggs Test. There are 16 possible personality types based on 4 factors:

• Introverted or Extroverted (I or E)
• Sensing or iNtuitive (S or N)
• Feeling or Thinking (F or T)
• Judging or Perception (J or P)

I'm curious as to what all of you are! Please take the test and let me know:

Personality test based on Jung - Myers-Briggs typology

I'm an INTJ or "mastermind." That's right. A mastermind. So what do I want to do tonight, you ask? The same thing I do every night, Pinky -- Try to take over the world!

I was very surprised to read the description and to see how closely it resembles me. Kinda creepy. If any of you want a glimpse into my psyche, read on:

"INTJs are analytical. Like INTPs, they are most comfortable working alone and tend to be less sociable than other types. Nevertheless, INTJs are prepared to lead if no one else seems up to the task, or if they see a major weakness in the current leadership. They tend to be pragmatic, logical, and creative. They have a low tolerance for spin or rampant emotionalism. They are not generally susceptible to catchphrases and do not recognize authority based on tradition, rank, or title.

Hallmarks of the INTJ include independence of thought and a desire for efficiency. They work best when given autonomy and creative freedom. They harbor an innate desire to express themselves by conceptualizing their own intellectual designs. They have a talent for analyzing and formulating complex theories. INTJs are generally well-suited for occupations within academia, research, management, engineering, and law. They are often acutely aware of their own knowledge and abilities—as well as their limitations and what they don't know (a quality that tends to distinguish them from INTPs). INTJs thus develop a strong confidence in their ability and talents, making them natural leaders.

In forming relationships INTJs tend to seek out others with similar character traits and ideologies. Agreement on theoretical concepts is an important aspect of their relationships. By nature INTJs can be demanding in their expectations, and they approach relationships in a rational manner. As a result INTJs may not always respond to a spontaneous infatuation but wait for a mate who better fits their set criteria. They tend to be stable, reliable, and dedicated. Harmony in relationships and home life tends to be extremely important to them. They generally withhold strong emotion and do not like to waste time with what they consider irrational social rituals. This may cause non-INTJs to perceive them as distant and reserved. Nevertheless, INTJs are usually very loyal partners who are prepared to commit substantial energy and time into a relationship to make it work."

(wikipedia, entry "INTJ")

One thing about myself that has always bothered me is that I am "distant and reserved" as wikipedia states. Maybe I should just accept that this is me instead of always, painfully and unsuccessfully, trying to change it.

Some notable INTJs are Warren Buffet, Jane Austen, Caesar, Thomas Jefferson, Steven Hawking, C. S. Lewis, Plato and Issac Newton. Oh, and Arnold Schwartzenegger which I'm sure you can see the similarities :)

Matt, on the other hand is an ENTJ. We pretty much the same except Matt is extroverted and I'm introverted. His profile is so "right on" that it is scary. It mentions being good at business, which he is, having energy, which he definitely does, and a desire to create efficient systems, which is half of what Matt talks about.

So I really am interested: What are you? Do you find it accurate? Take the test!

Hasta la vista, baby!

Action figure Phobia

I have no idea why, but Parker has developed this fear of action figures. I mean, he is seriously freaked out when he sees those things. We have this little GI Joe we found doing some geocaching some time ago. It was just sitting on my desk minding its own business. Parker spots it and starts pointing (as he always does) at it. Matt thought, "Oh, he wants to play with it." But Parker was thinking, "What in the crap is that freaky thing!!" Matt, being the good father he is, went and got it for Parker and Parker flipped out. He started shaking in fear. Literally shaking!

It doesn't stop there. Parker also had a melt down at Old Navy. The culprit: Scary friendly-looking mannequins. His Aunt Rachel was introducing him to these giant-sized action figures and he started crying! When ever he sees an action figure, he will look away from it and hold me as tightly as possible.

I know I must be a bad mom, but I find this hilarious.

Well, some time has past and Parker has made amends with the GI Joe. They're friends now. Next stop: Old Navy.