100 Things

I've been putting this off for a while now. But, due to the recent dearth of blogworthy news around here, I decided that now is just as good a time as any. Here goes. Maybe you'll learn something!

100 Things About Me (in no particular order)

1. I am the oldest (and most loved) of four children.
2. I HATE my given middle name. (My apologies to all the "Robins" of the world.)
3. I am related to Molly Pitcher.
4. I am distantly related to Kelsey Grammer.
5. I can sing. (and I'm humble!)
6. I won a national singing competition when I was a senior in high school.
7. I work best under pressure.
8. I HATE clutter.
9. I am a perfectionist.
10. I love Big Macs.
11. I had four children with no epidurals.
12. The above is quite a feat, considering my last child weighed 9 pounds, 11 ounces!
13. Jeff and I dated only six weeks before he asked for my dad's permission to marry me.
14. Jeff and I had our first kiss at a McDonald's in Sydney, Australia.
15. Our daughter is named Sydney because we fell in love in Australia.
16. I have nice handwriting.
    
17. I drive a dark green 2005 Toyota Sienna minivan. I LOVE it.
    
18. I have never been to Disney World. (My parents took the rest of the family when I was a sophomore in college. I'm still bitter about that.)
19. I am addicted to Rubbermaid containers and my Dymo label maker.
    
20. I was married before I knew that Stevie Nicks was a woman and Alice Cooper was a man.
21. I was not allowed to watch "Happy Days" as a child because they danced on that show.
22. I wore a dress every single day for 13 years of private school and 4 years of private college.
    
23. I took private voice lessons for nine years.
    
24. I played basketball for six years in high school.
25. I broke my nose twice in one month playing basketball in high school.
    
26. When I was nine, I got lost in French Creek State Park for four hours with a friend.
27. I fainted in the middle of the mall right after I got my ears pierced at the age of 16.
28. I have the most handsome, best husband in the world.
29. I have four beautiful and energetic kids.
30. I HATE to call babysitters. Jeff always does it.
    
31. Grand Rapids, Michigan, is my favorite place we've ever lived.
32. My two sisters are my best friends.
33. I now know there is hope for my own girls to be best friends someday!
34. I was 17 weeks pregnant with my boys before we told anyone.
35. I lied about my actual due date with my last three kids so people wouldn't bug me.
36. I lied and told people we didn't know what we were having even though we knew both boys were going to be boys.
37. I made up fake baby names to tell people when they asked so I didn't have to worry about their reactions.
    
38. After reading the last three, I think I have issues with honesty.
39. I was a model on a box of Graco children's furniture when I was three.
40. Like mother, like daughter--Brooke was a model in a Graco catalog when she was one.
41. I am not afraid to speak in public.
42. When I am nervous, I break out in horrendous and unfortunately noticeable hives all over my neck and upper body.
    
43. I had blood poisoning from a spider bite when I was 15.
44. When riding with a group of people, I prefer to be the driver.
45. I am a proud Republican.
46. I love to watch/listen to Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN.
47. My iPod contains mostly sermons. (Pastor Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church in Seattle is my favorite!)
48. I could be a member of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).
49. I passed Algebra 1 with a 70 and then switched to Accounting.
    
50. My favorite Yankee Candle scent is "Home Sweet Home" in the fall/winter and "Clean Cotton" in the spring/summer.
51. I have a Bachelor of Arts in English/Professional Writing from Cedarville University.
    
52. I have NO patience for spelling and grammar mistakes. My biggest pet peeves: lead for led, advise for advice, and your for you're.
    
53. I love Diet Mountain Dew.
54. I love to watch NASCAR races.
55. I keep in touch regularly with my good friends from high school.
56. I don't worry. I plan for the worst.
57. I can't play any instruments.
58. I hate my fair skin.
59. I wish I were shorter.
60. I love snow and winter.
61. Tulips are my favorite flower.
62. I love conservative talk radio--Laura Ingraham, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Dave Ramsey.
63. I rarely listen to any music.
64. My current favorite perfume is Mademoiselle by Chanel.
65. I don't like cereal.
66. I love to read, mostly fiction but never "christian fiction".
    
67. I love rain.
68. I do not enjoy most fruits and vegetables.
69. I don't like any hot drinks.
70. I have a sarcastic sense of humor and a quick wit.
71. I hate milk. It's just gross.
    
72. I have an oval-shaped diamond engagement ring.
73. My favorite class in college was "History of the English Language".
74. Baskin-Robbins rocky road is my favorite ice cream.
75. I am a terrible photographer.
76. I am punctual, and I think everyone else should be too.
77. I would have a lot of gray hair if I didn't color it regularly.
78. I do not currently nor do I ever want to scrapbook.
79. I grind my teeth horribly at night.
80. I don't save anything--not bill stubs, not children's artwork, not leftover food. This has come back to bite me a few times.
81. I love HGTV, TLC, and the Discovery Health Channel.
82. I am my in-law's favorite daughter-in-law. (Never mind that I am the ONLY daughter-in-law.)
83. I am a fifth-generation Christian.
84. I check my e-mail about 100 times a day.
85. After I was married, I had a 4.0 GPA my entire senior year of college.
86. I love chocolate. Hershey's is my favorite.
87. I cannot/will not open my eyes under water.
88. I've had kidney stones twice. I would rather have more children with no drugs than have kidney stones again.
89. All of my children regularly slept 12 hours a night by nine weeks of age.
90. I love filet mignon, cooked medium rare.
91. My husband says I know more about professional football than the average wife.
    
92. Jeff and I sang twice in our own wedding.
    
93. I hate Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and other science fiction/fantasy.
94. Chicago is my favorite city, and I get to visit there every year with three dear friends.
95. I cannot stand to hear people clip their fingernails or toenails.
96. I will buy only Downy April Fresh scent fabric softener--no matter the cost.
    
97. When we were traveling in Australia, our team got to sing in the Sydney Opera House.
    
98. We have moved eight times and lived in four different states in our 19 years of marriage.
99. I wish I could stand to let my hair grow.
100. I'm glad this is over! It was hard.