31 Random Facts About Me

I have never done one of these posts so I thought it would be fun! And since there are 31 days this month, I figured 31 would be a good number to start with. Perhaps, I will do more of these in the future :)

1. I am the youngest of 2. I have a brother who is 3 years older than me.

2. I seriously have the best parents! They have been married for almost 35 years! What an inspiration.

3. We didn't move much when I was a kid but I still ended up going to 4 different elementary schools.

4. I graduated in the top 5% of my high school class and had 10 college credits before I even started college.

5. I had my first job at 15. I worked there for 2 years.

6. I am a Believer. I accepted Jesus as my savior when I was 13 at a Chrysalis Retreat.

7. Growing up I wanted to be a doctor. My dad even nicknamed me "Doc."

8. I've always loved kids. I started babysitting when I was 11.

9. In fact, my second job was a child care giver at a local church daycare/preschool. I worked there for over 2 years.

10. I met my husband when I was 15 but we didn't start dating until after I turned 16.

11. I have an impeccable memory! I can remember events like they were yesterday. I can even remember my dreams. My dad says that Ellis' and elephants don't forget! And its very true.

12. I got my permit when I was 15 and my restricted license just 3 months later. My first car was my dad's Doge Dakota truck.

13. I even had a parking spot my sophomore year of high school :)

14. I had a pet bird named Bob when I was a little girl.

15. I've always loved to read. I cannot not remember reading.

16. For our first dating anniversary, Brandon gave me a promise ring and I bought us two tickets to an Atlanta Braves game.

17. My favorite drink is sweet tea. I could drink it all day long.

18. I also really wanted to be a teacher when I a kid. I played school all the time growing up.

19. I love to shop at Target!

20. My favorite all time show is Gilmore Girls. I own all seven seasons on DVD.

21. Brandon left for Basic Training less than 3 weeks after we got married. We still have the letters we wrote to each other during those months.

22. Our favorite vacation spot is Disney World. I am blessed to have been there 4 times in 3 years. We just love it there!

23. I could eat out every day and night. It can be a bad habit but it just makes me happy.

24. I do love to cook but often find myself in a rut when it comes to meal planning.

25. We have had four different dogs since we have been married.

26. We have also had ten different cars between us plus a motorcycle since our 8+ years of marriage.

27. I love coffee but I do not like to drink it hot even on cold days. I prefer mine iced.

28. I use to take piano lessons. I wish I would have stuck with it.

29. I battled both anorexia and bulimia in my teen years. I prefer never go back to those days.

30. I love to run because I also love to eat :)

31. I have always wanted to be have kids and be a stay at home mom!

Friday Favorites

Today, I am sharing some of favorites for the kiddos! With Christmas and birthday season (for this household, 3 birthdays back to back in fact) quickly approaching, I've been searching and researching gift ideas. We have a ton of toys between 3 kids and lots of toys between the two boys. I have been weeding through most of them deciding what they really play with or might play with down the road. With us living in Arizona, the weather really is ideal for outside play and a bigger bonus is that our house is set up for outside living too. At the back of the house, we have a semi covered patio that is partially bricked in with a gate. So its perfect to let the boys out there without me having to be out there as well. I can see them through the french doors and neither one can reach the lock to open the gate so its a win win situation. We also have a huge covered car port at the front of the house as well as a sidewalk. So needless to say, most of the toys on this list are intended for outside play. All 3 kids really love being outside and there have not been too many days that we have lived here that is not a possibility.

This is on Scott's short list for his birthday. I think both boys will love playing with it! 

This is also on Scott's wish list for his birthday. He loves playing with his cozy coupe and I just know he would love to have this little addition to make playtime better!

Oh my word, this toy is so much fun!! All 3 kids love this thing!! We were able to play with it at a friend's house and they all want one for our house. It would be a great addition :)

This is another fun little toy that I have on both P and Henry's Christmas wish lists. I can see future races in the drive way and side walk. 

And what outdoor fun would be complete without this adorable picnic table! :)

Christmas Wish List

The countdown is on... 75 days until Christmas!! So close but so far away :) I like to think of it in these terms... only 5 more paydays to go, haha!! Thankfully, we knocked out most of the kiddos Christmas this past weekend. Hooray for us! :) We just need to pick up some stocking stuffers and still decide on a birthday present for Scott. But this post is about my wish list, hehe! I am hoping Santa thinks I've been extra good this year and will have these presents waiting for me under the tree ;)

i love me some running shoes!
 i have logged many of miles on my old pair and could use a new pair.
asics  are my favorite.
they hold up well and fit my feet good. they are pricey but you get what you pay for. 

i think this is just too cute and needs to join my closet.
i love this! perfect for a stay at home mommy like me :)

i desperately need a new case for my iPad mini.
i have heard good things about this apple smart cover.

Catch All Update

Life here has been flying by! Can't believe we've already been here in AZ for two months now! I feel like its been longer just because we've dived in and made our niche here. Everyone is involved and has activities. It makes life better when you have the sense of belonging and that this place feels like our home. Which I guess is a good thing because this family of 5 will be spending much more time here at Fort Huachuca than expected. The slate for jobs & schooling after the MICCC is over in January was published earlier this week and we will be staying here! We both have mixed feelings about it. This place is providing a great career opportunity for Brandon. He will be an instructor for one of the schools here as well as get a Command with one of the MI companies. There's a lot of pluses here and at least we wont have to uproot our lives here and start again (not yet anyways!). It just stinks being so far away from home. We hate living so far away from our family and great friends! It seems like the Army loves having us out on the west coast. Thankfully it is just a 2-3 year assignment with his school time counting. Onward & upward, good news is we do like it here and we will make the best of it!

Peighton is doing well in school and really likes it! Just this past week, she received a "blue ticket" from school meaning she got caught doing something good. Brandon got to go have a special lunch at school with her on Friday. And then she also got Star of the Week for her class! :) Also, she received a free Pizza Hut dinner for reading so many books so far this year. Score for P! She still loves to read and is reading a chapter book every few days. She has passed all her spelling tests for far this year. And she is doing well in math. Over all, this school is year has been great! P has also gotten involved in the local Girl Scouts. She is in the Daisy group and they meed right here on Post twice a month. She is loving it! It's nice for her to have her own activity outside of school :)

Henry started the Part Day Preschool here on Post a few weeks ago! He goes Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. His class is small with only about 10 kids so that's nice. And so far he likes it! They have centers and circle time and they get to play outside each time. It is a good introduction to school and next year he will go more frequently to prepare for Kindergarten. Also, at this doctor visit last month, she recommended speech therapy and TriCare approved his evaluation and his therapy sessions. We got this coming week for his evaluation. I know Henry could use a little help in that department. He does talk and although I understand most of what he says, I also spend everyday with him. So I pray that goes well!

For myself, I am loving being involved in a great bible study through PWOC at the Main Post Chapel. I enjoy the fellowship and they provide watch care for both boys. It is just a wonderful program and we look forward to Tuesdays! I also am involved a local MOPS group (Mothers of Preschoolers) that is at a church in town. We meet twice a month and I enjoy that time as well :)  The boys and I spend the week visiting the local library, playing & eating lunch at McDonald's and of course many park visits. It's been nice making a routine and a niche for ourselves. Although I am an introvert at heart, I still love me some fellowship and the boys just love our park days!

All in all, life is good here. We have our moments even our days. But we are making the best of it all!