Good morning! I was tagged a few days ago and am finally getting around to answering the questions. This was fun, it’s been a while since I thought so much about myself! LOL And of course I couldn’t resist adding pictures.
“What I was doing ten years ago:
10 years ago Rich and I were living in our first house, a small ranch-style in the country (but on a busy road). I was a stay at home mom to my 1 year old and my baby. I love thinking about those early years. What stands out to me the most? Being on my own during the day while Rich was at work. I was used to being surrounded by my siblings. . .and parents. There were days when I ached with loneliness, trying to adjust. But it was wonderful to be married with my own house and things. I felt like I was playing!
Me and my little boys:
Five things on my to-do list today:
1. Take David to a birthday party.
2. Put Grace’s hair in pigtails (thanks for the inspiration, Cathi!)
2 yr. old Grace, in pigtails:
3. Enjoy the outdoors (it’s supposed to be 80 today!)
4. Teach the children some school.
5. Have fun with my friend Kathy, who is bringing D. home from the party so that we can visit.
Five snacks that I enjoy:
1. ice cream
2. homemade cookies, warm from the oven
3. crunchy cheese curls (not to be confused with puffs). .yeah, the neon orange ones.
4. I’m really not a snack person, though. Ummmmm, let’s see. I like hot buttered toast (comfort food)
5. pumpkin muffins
Five things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. First of all, I would make Rich quit his crazy corporate job.
2. We would go buy a big house with a red barn and lots of land, in the remote country.
3. I would buy farm animals. A couple cows, chickens, and a pony for Grace.
4. We would need one green John Deere tractor, and a White tractor. (Rich is helping me out here)
5. Hire a tudor to teach my children school so I don’t have to do it.
Five places I have lived:
1. Afton, NY
2. Clifton Park, NY
3. Mars, PA
(the rest are too close to home)
Three of my bad habits:
2. I don’t keep track of my things at times, and I don’t put them away. (Hence, “where are my KEYS?”)
3. I’m jealous, very jealous, of anything that comes between Rich and me.
Five jobs I have had:
1. babysitter
2. picking berries
3. caring for elderly
4. that’s it! I’ve had no other official job.
5. Except, now I’m a mom of 5. So, my list of “jobs that I have had” is too long to type here.
Five bloggers I want to know more about:
1. Elisha
2. Erika
3. Melissa K.
4. Melissa B.
5. Colleen
20 Questions about us:
1. My husband’s name is: Richard Charles ______
2. How long have you been married? 12 years
3. How long did you date? 2 years and 2 months
4. How old is he? Rich is 34.
5. Who eats more? Rich does.
6. Who said I love you first? I did.
7. Who is smarter? I am. (Rich is still helping me answer these, LOL)
8. Whose temper is worse? Mine is. (but I also laugh more)
9. Who does the laundry? Me and the children
10. Who does the dishes? Me and the children (but Rich helped me out a lot when the kids were too small to help)
11. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do. Does that mean something?
12. Who pays the bills? He does.
13. Who cooks dinner? I do, but he is always willing to pick something up on the way home, or to take us out to eat.
14. Who drives when you are together? Rich.
15. Who is more stubborn? I am.
16. Whose parents do you see the most? Mine
17. Who proposed? Rich
18. Who has more friends? I do.
19. Who has more siblings? This is tricky. Rich has 3 “real” and 4 “half”. I have 5 “real”.
20. Who wears the pants in the family? We both wear pants. But I also wear skirts. LOL
Have a happy day!
Good to be Home 
That was alot of fun! How fascinated I have become with what you have to share 🙂 ! You could always, you know, VISIT a farm, till you get yours! 🙂 We have a yellow barn in need of paint, cows, chickens, John Deere tractors ( nothing runs like a Deere, not even a White), a snake in a bucket and alot of mud right now! No pony. Sorry.
That 3 car garage and finished basement sounds nice! I am looking forward to a pictorial progression of progress!
Thank you! That was nice. I liked getting to know you better.
How many points do I get for already knowing most of these? LOL! I love that first one of you with long hair and think I have a similar copy you mailed me.
That is so cool that you had a job picking berries!!!
This post made real tears come to my eyes and start streaming down my face!
I love reading about how blest you are… (and I love being part of your life as your only sister)
Have a great day and enjoy Kathy and the weather!
The “aching loneliness” is were I am feeling I am in my life right now…crazy but maybe this has something to do with being home with a two year old and a three month old both who don’t talk much! miss ya xoxoxo amanda
Cute post. Interesting that you once lived in Clifton Park — I went to school at RPI and Albany Medical College, so I’m really familiar with that area…
I enjoyed an inside look at your life…I hope you can live on a farm someday. It would be work, but a great experience for you all.Nothing beats country living…except, living in a home provided by the Lord even though it is not in the country.
ROFLOL!!!!!! When I read about the 5 snacks you enjoy, my eyes did the flippy tranformation of words thing and I read, “ice cream, warm from the oven.” I was gonna have to ask you for THAT recipe!!!!
Hee hee – “You and Rich both wear pants, but you also wear skirts.” I really enjoyed this post and getting to know you better! I love the early pictures of you and your kids – I don’t think you have aged in 12 years!
This was fun. The day is lovely; we just got back from the party. My baby was about to meltdown so we had to get out of there quick. That picture of Grace in pigtails is so cute. Glad I was an inspiration. She looked so cute with her pigtails today… complete with bows. 🙂 I put Ainsley’s hair in pig tails today, but not Lorelei’s… ran out of time…
What a fun post, Shan! The pictures were a great addition. I love the picture of you with long hair and your two little men! 80 degree weather sounds heavenly!! Can you send me some?? I also took care of the elderly before I was married and before I had children. Enjoy your beautiful day!
I loved reading this post Shan. it is so awesome that, as much as we want to, we will never know everything about the ones we care about. I’m so grateful God does and that He is the good in us. Grateful for you! Love, Lish
I enjoyed reading this post and getting to know more about you! You are very blessed! It is 80 here today too. Makayla and I have been outside all day, I felt so bad she cried when I brought her in to take a nap and she just wanted to be outside. Have a wonderful day! Love, Melissa
These are always so fun to read. I like learning more about you. Grace was adorable today, though she had a purple stain on the back of her pretty white dress. I told her I thought you’d be able to get it out , though.
@tessitura – you made me laugh. I noticed that spot when I dropped her off. Guess what it was? A blueberry! She must’ve sat on it at breakfast time (I made blueberry pancakes). . .so funny! Not sure if I can get that out, I might use a little bit of bleach?
Ah, thanks so much, Shan, for joining in. It was fun getting to know you more. :~) The day I ran across your blog was the day God blessed me in a way I didn’t know would be possible through a “stranger”. You are a beautiful mother of five and one of my “heros”… not because you’re perfect, but because you’re human, and yet you recognize your blessings and freedoms in Christ. It’s easy, as a young mother, to look back on the freedom of BC (before children) and long for that freedom again, missing the blessings in diapers and potty training. Thanks for your encouragement.
Just wondering, after 12 years of being a mother, do you still have days where you don’t want to be Mommy anymore, or do you get over it? :~P
P.S. Actually, of those I chose, I figured you would be one of the “doers”… I just wasn’t sure if you were too busy. :~)
@purpleamethyst76 – LOL that is so funny! Yes I would definitely try bleach, or if you have one of those Clorox pens, those work great. 🙂
That was great…so fun to learn some new things about you and see the early pictures. blessings, Jenny
I have to say my favorite answer of yours was “Who wears the pants” and the great pictures to illustrate your answer. That last picture shows such realness! Thanks for being so joyful and sharing more about yourself with us!blessings~
Fun post!