28 Going on OLD

Today I am 28. In honor of starting my blog, the new year, and my birthday, here are 28 things I think you should know.

1. I have been married to my best friend Brent for 7 1/2 years. It has been fun and challenging. I recommend marriage.

2. My oldest daughter Hailey is going to be 5 on January 14. When she was born she looked exactly like Brent. Now, after spending five years straight with me, she is my dead ringer. I think she is pretty and very smart.

3. My youngest daughter Natalie will be 2 on March 9. I had her by planned C-Section (which is THE way to have a baby) and she was the perfect child until she was 5 months. It has been a struggle since then but I always say difficult children make amazing adults.

4. I LOVE drive-thrus. Hence, the name of my blog. They are easy, convenient, and gratifying. Just like life should be. My favorite drive-thru of all time is the Crest in Provo on 9th East. My current favorite drive-thru is the Sonic on Litchfield and Waddell.

5. Yesterday I played Mexican Train dominoes in the middle of the day. Although I had nothing else planned or pressing, I still felt guilty.

6. I love to shop. That is what I would always rather be doing. I love errands and pleasure shopping equally. I love all stores, seriously. K-Mart, convenience stores, Pier 1, Payless, I love them all.

7. My favorite convenience store is off I-84 on the way to Boise. It is called the Garden of Eden. There is nothing like a clean, well-lit, well-stocked convenience store. They thrill me.

8. I feel like I haven't conveyed my love of all things retail. Let me reiterate. I LOVE to shop and I LOVE to browse and I LOVE all stores. Except petsmart.

9. I love high-speed internet and dvr. I could do without cell phones.

10. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister. They are 7 years behind me in life even though we were all born in the space of 6 years. We have good relationships.

11. I am all about expressing my opinion and you expressing yours. By all means, do what you want but I will tell you what I think you should do. And my way will probably be your best option.

12. My favorite teenage memories involve fires I set.

13. Our family doesn't travel often enough. Even though my definition of travelling would include the beach for a weekend as it is only 5 hours away. This is something I hope to rectify in 2008.

14. We live by NO family and haven't since we moved to Arizona. While this makes me sad, I think it has been really important for our marriage. I wish there was something between nothing and 11 day visits.

15. I got my bachelor's degree in English from BYU in 2001. No teaching certificate. I wish I had majored in something math related, maybe accounting?

16. My husband works for the City of Mesa as a lobbyist. He loves it and I love having a husband who loves what he does.

17. I am the activities committee chairman in our ward and just got released from teaching sunbeams. Any good activity suggestions?

18. My favorite music right now is Easy Listening Sirius channel. I love Barry, the Carpenters, and all light rock. I was weaned on FM 100.

19. I can't narrow down my favorite food, but right now I really want a 7-11 chocolate chocolate donut. Good thing I don't live in Utah.

20. My next major purchase will be furniture, really good furniture. I am sick of my Ashley couches that were the cheapest thing we could find. And I'm hoping this new furniture happens soon.

21. My best friend besides Brent is my mom. We talk daily and about everything. She works as a biller for a plastic surgeon and gets freebies. I need her job.

22. I feel kind of silly for starting a blog, but I feel like I need a creative outlet and it makes me miss my friends so much. I want them to miss me, too!

23. I think being a mom of little kids is incredibly hard work. I haven't found one day of it to be easy. But I like it and I think I'm a good mom.

24. I watch what I consider to be a lot of tv (thanks to dvr). But considerably less now that there is nothing on. My all-time favorite show is 24. I was a fan from the beginning. Season 1 started during my last semester of college when I had a Bible as Lit class on Tuesdays that didn't end until 8:30. I seriously left at quarter to 7 for the whole semester. I got a C.

25. I don't know what my house decor style is. I love everything. I love all colors, and all types of furniture. I used to think I was Tuscan, but now I think I'm contemporary casual. Does that even exist?

26. I ordered my own birthday cake to be picked up at Fry's today. It is chocolate cake with chocolate filling and white whipped frosting. It has red borders and big yellow flowers and confetti. I might share it with my family. I really wanted the Costco cake, but I think 1/8 of a cake will be plenty.

27. My first memory of Ashley (my blogging inspiration--see list to the right) was on my 14th birthday. Her and Nikole decorated my room with crepe paper and balloons and hid in it to surprise me when I walked in. I miss festivities like this.

28. I think birthdays are a big deal. Even and especially as an adult. When people say that their birthday is just another day, Brent, I scoff. I want a several day celebration of eating out, being irresponsible, and having fun. So I'll let you know how it goes.