Happy Birthday to me...

Oh boy! When Julie did her 100 things list for her birthday in March, I thought it would be so fun to do. I wanted to get started right away. Well I didn't even start until this weekend! I know I left so many things out. Here we go...

100 Things about me…

1. I am really worried that this will be boring for people to read
2. I was born in Bountiful Utah and the first of four girls (no boys!)
3. I usually get a little embarrassed when I have to admit that I was born in 1980
4. One of my nicknames is Doo-doo, from eating my poop when I was six months old. I blame my dad!
5. My other nicknames are Doo-doo, Mandy, Mands, AJ,
6. I was in Sunshine Generation when I was little (singing and dancing group)
7. I can’t sing!
8. When I was little every time I smiled I wrinkled my nose, my parents could not get me to smile normal.
9. When I was four I walked on my tippy toes
10. When I was 5 I talked to my dad the entire drive from California to Utah
11. When little we spent lots of summers in California with my Grandma, and Aunt Marcia…it was so much fun!
12. My Aunt Marcia loved to give me chocolate when I was little and watch me shake when I couldn’t eat it fast enough.
13. I still love chocolate
14. My first kiss was in the back of a school bus in Kindergarten
15. When I was 7 a friend and I wrote with chalk on the sidewalk all the swear words we weren’t supposed to say
16. I fell and had a concussion because a friend and I were spinning in an office chair
17. I took dance lessons until I was 10 and then switched to piano.
18. In 6th grade I tried turning a D into a B on my report card so I could go to Sea World with the Girl Scouts. I got caught though!
19. I have marched down Main Street at Disneyland 3 times with my junior high and high school band.
20. I hated being in band! But now look back and I am glad that I stuck with something that was hard to do.
21. I play the flute, piano, and assorted percussion instruments. The Xylophone was my favorite.
22. I loved watching Disney movies with my sisters after church on Sundays when we were younger
23. I ran a red light and failed my driving test the first time.
24. I loved early morning seminary! It always started the day off right.
25. My girlfriends in high school called ourselves TRAKSS for Tricia, Robyn, Amanda, Katie, Stephanie, and Sydney.
26. Although I don’t talk to all of them very often I still love them and admire the choices they have all made.
27. My mom became one of my best friends when I was on camp council and she was the camp director. I even started calling her SUZ.
28. I broke my femur in 10th grade, while carrying my friend Robyn (who also had a broken leg) on my back. I had to have a metal rod and 3 screws put in.
29. I had the rod removed a year later, so if I ever fell again I wouldn’t shatter my bone.
30. I wouldn’t be shocked if I broke a bone again…I am a total klutz!
31. My friend Robyn and I jumped on our pool cover and took pictures, and later got in trouble when they were developed.
32. I tried out for cheer every year and only made it my senior year. I learned to never give up for something I want.
33. My sister Chelsea was one of my best friends in High School. I loved hanging out with her.
34. I think my sister Lindsey is hilarious and love talking to her about her crazy life and admire her ability to be so stylish. She is definitely going to be my personal shopper someday.
35. I love hanging out with my sister Whitney. We still have such a cute oldest sister/youngest sister relationship. I think she will be such a great mom too!
36. I loved having just sisters, but not so much when my mom dressed us alike until I was 10!
37. By the time I moved away for college I had moved 8 times from Bountiful UT to Evanston WY to Centerville, back to Evanston WY, to Fruit Heights UT, to Kaysville UT, to Whittier CA, and finally to Placentia CA…and I guess 9 when I moved to Provo.
38. Placentia was my favorite I loved our house and all the great friends I made
39. I went to Paris, London and Edinburgh with my mom when I was 19.
40. I fell in love with art museums while in Paris.
41. I fell twice in Paris, both in very public places
42. I thought London was a magical place and wanted to go study abroad there.
43. I love talking to my dad, I think he is the best listener and gives great advice.
44. The day my dad met Jon he said I could marry him…so I did!
45. My husband Jon Fairbanks was the second Jon Fairbanks that I dated.
46. I met the first one at EFY, and he was from Nebraska.
47. I met my Jon, in Biology class at UVSC.
48. He asked me out for the next night, even though I was wearing glitter make-up!
49. I love Jon’s family! They are so fun to hang out with! I feel very blessed to have them as my family
50. I still love talking to Jon all night (it drives him a little crazy!)
51. Even though I am the oldest and Jon is the youngest we both get along great!
52. Jon totally surprised me when he asked me to marry him, I thought he wasn’t going to ask for another week or two
53. We got engaged after hiking to Stewart Falls (up Provo Canyon)
54. We got married in the Bountiful Temple September 2000 (almost 7 years ago!)
55. Our reception at Thanksgiving Point was so pretty and my most favorite day still!
56. When we got married I wanted to be more mature and start going by Amanda, it made me feel too old and I still go by Mandy.
57. I am known as the peacekeeper in my family, but I don’t have to use it very often since we usually get along great
58. I often can’t put a book down that I am reading.
59. Since having kids I have to stay up all night to read those books.
60. I love laughing and wish I was better at making people laugh.
61. I am constantly worried that I am going to say something dumb.
62. I don’t have a clue how to get anywhere in California even though I grew up here
63. I love to kiss baby cheeks and feel their soft skin.
64. Since 9/11 I have become a total news junkie
65. I love having a girl’s night out.
66. I love date night and wish we could go out more often
67. I cry in EVERY movie, which is why I will usually choose a funny movie.
68. My parents spoil me, I am very grateful.
69. I hated Disneyland in High School
70. I fell in love with it when my sister Lindsey was Snow White and we had Emma.
71. I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. Although right now it is a high school history teacher.
72. I have always enjoyed being short
73. I collect cookbooks, and wished I used them more.
74. I love watching the sunset at the beach
75. Other than 6 weeks of being sick, I love being pregnant.
76. I have loved being a mom, I have learned so much (good and bad) about myself.
77. I have always loved watching cartoons, I don’t mind watching a few with Emma.
78. I thought it was really funny that we were going to live in Kentucky
79. I loved living in Kentucky
80. I will watch the Kentucky Derby for the rest of my life, and miss watching Thunder over Louisville (the most amazing firework show)
81. I love watching thunderstorms and would even get a little excited when there was a tornado watch.
82. My biggest goal right now is to get healthy; I have a scary family history!
83. My favorite family trip has been to Hawaii, I thought it was paradise, and we even brought Emma.
84. I love to scrapbook, but don’t spend nearly enough time doing it.
85. I like the peace and quiet of feeding a baby during the night
86. I love reading books to Emma
87. I love watching Emma’s face when she watches a new movie or fireworks.
88. I like change (moving, new jobs, new people)
89. I love changing my hair, but prefer to have it short and easy to do.
90. I love taking pictures
91. I am so glad that Jon and I didn’t have kids for 3 years, but now I don’t remember what we did with all that free time.
92. I was really afraid to have another baby, Sophie has been such a good baby, and I am starting to think I can handle a few more babies.
93. I like cleaning my house and listening to Ricky Martin really loud
94. I like serving others but don’t do it nearly often enough
95. I love playing games
96. I want to see every Temple in the US...I have a lot of traveling to do!
97. I love traveling and can’t wait to see more of the world with Jon
98. I love to just laugh with Emma about nothing
99. I am grateful for all of the great examples of teachers, friends, and especially family I have had in my life.
100. I am so glad to see the number 100! I have a million more things left I could write but my brain is now FRIED!

Books Books Books!!!

I have been pondering this for sometime, and I was wondering if anyone would be intrested in starting a book blog...of books you have read or are reading. I am always looking for a good book and I love when someone passes on one. Last time I was in Utah my Mother-in-law and Sister-IL's all made a list of books we had read and really liked...I have lost that list and I am so bummed! To me, (the more the merrier) anyone could make posts...I guess it would be somewhat of a bookclub blog! Let me know if you are intrested and I will start one next week! Just in time fore Harry Potter! Also if you have a good clever name, for the blog, let me know!

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Mingle² - Online Dating

I saw this on Jamie's Blog and had to try it!

SaN FrANciSCo

Alright so I know that Chicago is the windy city...but San Francisco is a close second! It was such a blast to take a mostly adult trip to SF (Sophie being the only baby). We drove up on Thursday night with my sister Lindsey and my Mom and Dad. We stopped at a place called Harris Ranch for some seriously good steak...oh and some serious cow stinky air!

Friday we walked around fisherman's wharf, and then decided to take a ride on the cable cars. It was lots of fun and amazing to go up all those huge hills. Then we walked around the largest Nordstrom store. Then we had our first meal at Boudins! Chelsea, Whitney, and Ryan joined us Friday night after work!




On Saturday when we woke up I decided to get my hair cut like Emma's and conveniently Chelsea my personal hairdresser was there to take care of my spur of the moment decision! It looks great and I love having shorter hair during the summer! First we decided to take a drive down Lombard street (the crooked street) The picture of Whitney and Ryan is standing at the bottom of it. Then we drove over the Golden Gate Bridge and then took a few pictures and then walked a little ways across the bridge. I don't know why but I just love that red bridge! I was so sad the first day when it was too foggy to even see it! Then we went into Sausalito (little town across the bridge) and ate lunch. We then went back and just walked around fisherman's wharf (Dan also joined us a little later) We enjoyed walking around and watching all the crazy people on the streets making money. They had break dancers, some guy holding a sign that said. "why lie, need Beer", Silver statue guys that sang to music, and a whole bunch of other things that I wish I could describe! By the time we got back to the hotel we noticed that Sophie was on fire, she totally had a fever!

On Sunday, we had our tickets to go over and see Alcatraz (This was pretty much the whole purpose of our trip, My dad had always wanted to see it! We were really lucky we got tickets in advance! They were sold out for the next 4 days!) Since Sophie was obviously sick, my mom offered to stay with her while we all went on the boat and walked around Alcatraz. It was a freezing boat ride over (we HAD to ride on the top of the boat of course!) but we realized that we had walked more than half way across the Golden Gate Bridge! The Jail was totally facsinating! It was fun to hear about the prisoners trying to escape. And see all the jail cells! It definately had a mysterious feeling to it! Then we headed back, ate at Boudin's one final time and headed back in the car and got home around midnight! I felt bad for everyone that had to get up early and go back to work!

So if your looking for a fun city to visit San Fran is a great choice although it isn't the best kid place! Too many weird places and way too much wind! And I would definately tell you to eat at Boudin's Sourdough cafe it was so good, we ate there every chance we got!

So I found this new blog, I really love purses! The blog shows celebrities with their purses and then they kind of rate new purses! (I especially thought of Julie and Lindsey when I saw this, I had to show Lindsey right away!) I also thought the header on the page was a little funny..."shallow obsessing strongly encouraged" a little worldly but funny!

We are off to San Francisco with my family for a few days! I am so excited! Hopefully next week I can make an update on our crazy life!

Better late than never...Happy Father's Day!

So I am definately running about a week behind! But I didn't want to skip over Father's Day, I loved reading other blogs about what they did for Father's Day! I made Jon a DVD of pictures since Emma was born. It was fun to watch her grow up, and since we had her in Kentucky it was sort of a way to look at our time in KY too! These pictures are how I ended the movie! And I thought I should add a top 10 about why Jon is so great! We love you so much!

10. He is a better cook than me, and doesn't mind cooking!
9. He is neater than me
8. He is the funniest person I know! It usually gets him out (and in) lots of trouble!
7. He is so sweet when he plays with Sophie (I find it very romantic watching a guy play with a baby)
6. He does a great job of riding the line of father and friend to Emma! She loves to play with him!
5. He's hot! And charming!
4. He isn't afraid of what people think of him, and always strives to do what he thinks is right
3. He is a hard worker in everything that he does.
2. I hate to admit it but he is now officially more laid back than I am!
1. He enjoys life to it's fullest and makes the best of it. Whether it's being a father, husband, student (weird that he isn't anymore), son, etc...He makes it fun!

PS- Also a shout out to my Dad! He is impossible to buy for, so Emma and I made cookies for him! He is the best dad, and I have enjoyed every minute of watching him be a grandpa! He works so hard for our family! And we take it for granted way too often. Thanks dad for everything you do! We love you!

The Haircut!

When we went to Utah I totally fell in love with my niece Peyton's new haircut! She had chopped it off into a little bob! When we came back to California, I had to ask the Bride (Whitney) if she wanted Emma's hair long or short for the wedding. She decided that it would be better to have it long. So the day after the wedding we chopped it off. Unfortunately she was a little pictured out and we don't have such a great final picture, but I think you will get the idea! Also Jon was slightly opposed to the cutting of the hair! I loved the picture of his face when Chelsea first cut the huge hunk off! Thanks to Chelsea for doing so much hair during the wedding! And then having to cut Emma's hair after the wedding! Oh I also have to include the picture of Lindsey doing her tiger rahr, She likes to do it when the talk turns a little sexual (with a wedding, there always seemed to be a little teasing going on!) Well she decided to teach Emma how to do it! It is the funniest thing ever! I have to figure out how to put a movie of it on here! I can't wait until all my sister's have kids and I can return the favor of teaching their kids all the naughty stuff they have taught Emma!