#23 of 30

List your five hobbies and why you love them?

Ok, to be honest I've thought about writing this one a handful of times but then I don't because I remember, "Hey. I'm boring and I don't have hobbies."  Although I'm sure I'd love them. This past week, I've thought a lot about me. Sound vain? Self absorbed? I know.  I mean, I've thought a lot about who I am and what makes me, me. Who I want to be known as and what for... basically I'm trying to drum up something that makes me sound like I have hobbies and an exciting life. ;) I've come to some conclusions. A- I'm really good at procrastinating. Like expert. B- I like a lot of different things, but I either believe I'm not good enough at them to count them as hobbies, or I'm too poor to invest in making them hobbies. C- If I could count house cleaning, or wiping tiny cheeks, or doing really obnoxious dances while singing at decibels that shouldn't be allowed in order to keep a baby from crying... I'd be golden!
All that being said, I think what I'll do with this one is tell you the hobbies I imagine myself having. ;) That seems like more fun anyway.
Hobby #1: Decorating. I think it would be so much fun to have the budget to decorate my house all the time! I mean, I'm positive I could buy out Tai Pan Trading, Hobby Lobby, and JoAnns all in one afternoon. (And I like to paint because I'm  my mother's daughter so I would love to put some color on the walls at least every other year. ;) )
#2: Taking pictures! This is actually a little bit more of a real live hobby, because I do own a camera and I do take pictures. Unfortunately so does everyone else (plus their dogs) and so I always feel like I'm not as good as other people/annoyed that I'm on a bandwagon.  Having a cute son to snap pictures of has made me start doing it a little more seriously again, though, and I'm remembering how much I really love taking pictures. 
#3: Crafting! (Speaking of bandwagons, right?) I think it's so fun to see all the things people come up with to make, and I wish I had better artistic abilities to make what I've envisioned a reality. I seem to have a block somewhere between my imagination and my hands though. Any time I think of something I'd love to photograph, or write, or make... it generally ends up looking like something entirely different. At least I get to enjoy my ideas, right? Even if they never come to fruition. I guess that's where Pinterest comes into play.
#4: Writing. I used to write all the time. On my blog, in every notebook (including the ones that were supposed to be full of numbers and geography notes...) in my journal... you name it. I started "writing a book" once. But if you'll refer above, you'll probably figure out what happened to that. Words still intrigue me, though, and I have enjoyed having these '30 things' prompts to give me a little bit of an outlet here and there.
#5: Reading. This one is a real live one. I actually do read, and I actually do like it! I haven't had a lot of time to read things that I wanted to for a few years because of school, and now that I'm not in school I've got to work with nap times and bedtime to get some book worm-ing in. If anyone has recommendations for great books I'd love to hear them! I want to step outside my normal selection of brain-candy and get my mind to work again. (Ladies and Gents, enjoy school. I actually miss having a structured learning environment, and yes... even homework. Gross right?)
Sometime along the next chapters of my life I'll get to dabble more in both my real and imagined hobbies, right? 

#22 of 30

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?

The sun is coming up, Jaden is pushing matchbox cars around the kitchen while his little brother/sister is screeching in the other room. Matt kisses me goodbye and heads out the door to go to the office. Some morning cartoons are playing while I'm trying to get showered and ready. Me and my two littles, plus Mocha, our chocolate lab, head out the door to play in the splash pad at the park on Tabernacle. Later in the afternoon we take some lunch to dad's office at the Hospital. On the weekend, we'll take a family hike in Redcliffs. Sunday I'm playing the piano in Primary, and Matt's in Young Men's...  In five years Matt will be 30, I'll be 27, Jaden babes will be 5 and I hope we'll have a two year old and maybe another on the way. :) I hope we've got a cute little home with a yard so Matt can finally have his dog. :) I hope we're back in Utah, so we can be close to family. I see myself as a stay at home mom, probably a little frazzled some days, but I hope we're all laughing and having fun most of the time. I see myself with a young family doing experiments in the kitchen and baking cookies on those afternoons when I'm desperate to get my babes distracted from picking on each other. I see myself trying to teach our kids to be responsible and kind by having them take care of the dog. I see myself getting sentimental sending Jaden to kindergarten, but enjoying some one on one time with our second baby. :)
In ten years Matt will be 35, I'll be 32, Jaden will be 10 (weirdest thought), and I hope we'll have an 8 year old, 6 year old and maybe a 4 year old. :) I see us in a similar place: a (usually except when the kiddos are hellians) happy home, I'm sure a dog barking in our backyard, various church callings, and juggling everyday life. Matt will be working in the medical field, maybe assisting in surgeries, maybe in a primary care clinic, or in dermatology. I hope I'll have a wider arsenal of easy to make dinners so I can feed our family some more exciting meals.  I hope that I'm a fun mom to our still young family. I see myself reading lots to our babes like my mom read to me, and doing 'mad scientist' experiments to teach and entertain the littles. I hope I can take them on fun adventures to parks or museums every once in a while, but mostly I see myself at home helping with homework and primary talks. I see messy rooms, and backpacks in the front room. I hope that we're doing sloppy family home evenings, because that will mean that our kids are doing most of the teaching. :) I hope that we have a piano by then, and that our kids love music. 
In fifteen years Matt will be 40, I'll be 37, Jaden will be 15, and just for fun our other hypothetical children will be 13, 11, and 9. I picture myself having a girl next, and then more boys. Don't ask why- that just is how I envision our future family. :p So we'll probably have our little ladies man to rein in, he'll probably be a little bit of a handful I'm sure. ;) Our little hypothetical pre-teen daughter most likely has some dramatic flair thanks to yours truly. The younger boys probably drive her crazy, and I'll probably be fielding fights. We'll be chasing back and forth to keep up with the things our kids are involved in. We'll be an old enough family that maybe Matt will consider letting us pack up and go to Disneyland. ;) I'm pretty determined to make that happen, by the way.  In fifteen years, my heart will probably be brimming with all the love I'll have for my little family. I'll like Matt way more than I did when I first saw him in Ephraim, or when we got married and lived in our first home in Cedar. I'll be totally baffled that I've got a fifteen year old. I'll maybe be having a small panic attack that I've got 3 years until I'm 40. (Maybe I'll put purple streaks in my hair again in an attempt to have a midlife crisis.) I'll be feeling sentimental and clinging to the imagination phase of my baby for dear life. ;) I'll finally be able to decorate my home the way I've always dreamed, and I'll most likely be driving a mom-mobile that has french fries stuck between the seats. Matt and I will splurge on an anniversary to some beach that we've been daydreaming about visiting for a while because our kids will be old enough to stay with one of their grandparents. Maybe by then we'll have a gigantic California King sized bed, so that Matt can sprawl without me 'taking up all the space'. :p Probably not, though, because buying fun toys/clothes/room decor/whateverelse for our kids will be more fun. 
In five, and ten, and fifteen years I think we'll still be pretty much the same... but bigger. Not size wise- well... maybe- but bigger as people. I think we're just going to keep loving being a mom and dad, we're going to keep having opportunities to grow, and struggling over new learning curves. I think we'll still be fumbling through callings in the church, and being grateful for them later when we realize why we needed them. I think we're going to have plenty of moments when we're not sure that we can do what we're faced with, but I think we're going to become closer friends and spouses when we come out on top of trials together.  What I've written down is pretty idealistic, but it's what I hope for my future. I hope we have a long, normal, occasionally boring, wonderful life together because that's what we've got now. And it's perfect because it's what we need. :) It's all about the Little Moments, guys. ;)

#21 of 30

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and how would you use it first?

I would love to be able to 'teleport' or something. We've got family and friends all over the place, and driving with a baby is sometimes no bueno. Last Summer, Matt and I got to drive to Holdrege Nebraska to visit his dad, step mom, and siblings. I actually really loved the trip! I didn't think I would because Nebraska sounded flat and boring to me, but Holdrege is the cutest town, Nebraska has some of the most amazing parks, and of course the best reason is that we got to hang out for a few days with our family! Especially now that Jaden is here, we wish it was easier to get over there and visit! The first thing I'd do would be teleporting my little family to go stay for a weekend (or ya know... like every weekend) with our family! The street they live on is lined with trees, and I bet it's amazing in the fall. :)  Now the question is how do I for real get this super power? ;)

(Just so I don't repost every single picture from the trip re-cap blog... you can go here if you want to see more. :p)

#20 of 30

So... I'm bringin these back! Today Jaden and I accompanied Matt to SUU while he worked on his applications. (Well... works on his applications. We're still here... after a brief dinner break for grumpy buns at grandmas we came back. :p) Since the laptop at our house has taken a MAJOR dive, I haven't even wanted to attempt turning it on, let alone try blogging. Computer labs to the rescue!
Today I was thinking about how I'm getting 'boring'. My Facebook, Instagram, texts, blogs, etc. all consist of the cutest little crush in my life. Totally not a bad thing! I mean, if you guys get sick of the baby overload, I'm sorry... but really. Who doesn't like cute babies? That being said, I realized I haven't posted anything that was solely me. (Ok Shan... let's sound vain here for a second...) I feel like in motherhood you find a new self, and it's your identity now. Again, totally not a bad thing. It's just that sometimes I miss feeling like Shannon is a separate person. I get a little lost in diapers and feedings and fighting naps (already. I know.) and tiny laundry, and I forget to have interests and hobbies. Maybe that was part of the job title when I signed up?

So. I started (finally) reading the stack of books Aunt Cherene let me borrow, I played the piano at my mom's and I decided I wanted to start blogging non poopy diaper related topics. ;) And ya know what? It feels really good to mix some of that in with being a mom. :) Life is pretty great. 

Number 20 out of the 30 things series (and if those are a distant memory to you too and you want to read them again- or whatever, here.) is:

Describe 3 significant memories of your childhood:

Well... I don't remember a whole lot of Kanab besides chopping Dallin Heaton's thumb because I wanted to be John Smith and make him be Pocahontas, and riding in those seats that attach on the back of a bike behind my mom/dad and being really worried we were going to tip right over. (Well, and I guess when that mean kid in church bit Simba's head off. Worst day of my life. ;) )
Circleville is most of what I knew as a kid, and there are SO many  memories from there! I loved our neighbors, they were like extra sets of grandparents. I loved that we lived on our own lane. (We called it 'Haunted House Lane' since the other houses were just old abandoned ones for such a long time.)
 The addition we built onto our house was so perfect, and the cozy wood burning stove was my favorite. I wish I could still build a bed of quilts in front of the stove and watch the snow falling through our french doors.
To narrow it down to three significant memories though, we'd have to start with 'my' bridge.
About half a mile down the road from our house was a bridge that I used to ride my bike to all the time in the Summer. It was my 'running away' hide out. Looking back now that seems stupid, since everyone could still see my bike tipped over at the top of the bridge. ;) I used to take my notebooks or camera or music there. It's where I wrote twitterpated letters. (Embarrassing) One summer when Aubree came to stay for a weekish, we went there to document wildlife pretty much every morning. :p We saw a sand hill crane (or something) one morning and I'm pretty sure we thought we were so cool for discovering one in Circleville! ;) I miss that runaway hideout sometimes.

I also remember the hours of playing Lion King in the pastures behind our house. Erin and I would run around on our hands and knees, lying in the tall grass, imagining all sorts of exciting adventures. I don't know how we could stand to crawl around that long outside, I don't think it was very comfortable. We'd always come back to the house with squashed bugs all over our legs. So gross, right? But we loved it! It's funny to me how impatient I am with being outside if it's windy or if there are bugs or something. It never phased us as kids!

I think the last memory I'm going to pick is when my friend, Katie, and I would drive around town in her golf cart giving 'tours'... to imaginary friends... in Piglatin. We were some cool kids, obviously. How many people do you know that can give you a tour in fluent Piglatin? ;)

#19 of 30

Guys. This waiting game to have a baby is killer. Really, this has probably been the least fun part of the whole pregnancy! (Well, so far. I may have something that tops it by the time little man gets here. ;) )
So. I might as well make some progress with the 30 things series since I've been getting behind in them.

Number 19 on the list is: If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

I was thinking initially that I'd have two answers; a practical one and a day dream one. Then I realized that I only have the 'practical' answer, and then places I'd like to visit or places I wouldn't mind living temporarily. What can I say? I'm a little boring sometimes. :p I want to live somewhere close to family. I'm that girl that has never lived anywhere further than 3 hours away from my family. Obviously that's going to change next year when we go out of state for PA school, and that's great! It sounds like more of an adventure than a permanent home. :)  My practical answer is I'd live in St. George. :) 45 minutes away from my parents, it's warm, it's comfortable, it seems perfect! There are lots of places close by to explore and hike around too. Matt is determined not to live where it's freezing.He's mentioned Vegas a few times... St. George is probably the coldest place he'd pick. :p
 

#18 of 30

What has been the most difficult thing for you to forgive?

This is kind of a hard one because it's a pretty personal question. :) I don't want to ever write a post of pointing my finger and condemning someone and then telling you how I just am too stubborn and prideful to forgive them for whatever they did.
To be honest, there have been a lot of different things that have been difficult to forgive, but the underlying common thread in them all is forgiving myself. For whatever reason, it seems to be human nature to be able to forgive others easier than it is to forgive yourself.. Of course the Savior died for them, of course the atonement makes them clean. But me? No, I'm too awful or too prideful or too whatever else. The funny thing about that is it's like we're saying we're better than everyone else or above the atonement. We're too special for that to work for us like it does for everyone else. (Anyone else saying bull? Right.)
So I've learned that the atonement is much more encompassing than I realized before. I've learned that you don't necessarily forgive someone all at once- not even yourself. It's definitely a journey, and something that requires humility and relying on the Savior. :) When you turn it over to him, you might still struggle with whatever happened but you're not alone in it, and it doesn't consume you anymore. Eventually you don't really even think about it anymore. :) It's a great feeling to finally let go.

#17 of 30

What is the thing you most wish you were great at?

I think I most wish that I was great at seeing things from others perspective. I've always been the kind of person who assumes that everyone else's life is like mine, that they think, feel and see things like I do. I remember in Elementary going to a friend's house and realizing that her family situation was nothing like mine. I had always just thought that everyone had a mom and dad at home, and had lots of cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents who were close knit and all loved each other. I hadn't ever stopped to think that not everyone gets to be that lucky. The older I got, the more I saw families that were much different from mine and realized that I've been so blessed.  When I was in classes that I understood so easily and had to help other students who just could not grasp that concept it was another eye opener for me.  I think that as time has gone on I've become more open minded, but it's still something that I struggle with at first. I think that those who are open minded are better at being empathetic because they can see things how others see things. I also think it's much easier to talk with and be around those who have open minds. :) So... yeah. There's my spiel for the day. :p

#16 of 30

What are 5 of your greatest accomplishments?

... Probably things I haven't accomplished yet? :p 

Let's see. 

One would definitely be finishing a degree/certification. After failing my freshman year of college I felt pretty proud of myself when I finished my schooling for Pharmacy Tech in October. I'm done and licensed! 

Being married in the temple to my handsome best friend would be another. You're told all your life through church to be preparing to get married in the temple. Stay worthy, get worthy, be ready to make covenants, be prepared... but then after you're married in the temple then what? That's what I'm proud of- the fact that we've improved our temple marriage. We're not perfect by any means, but we've definitely made our marriage more than what it was when we walked out of the temple. :)

I bought a car with my own money. Kind of. I took out a loan, and my parents had to co sign because who lets little 19 year olds who know nothing about finances just have a loan by themselves right? Either way though, it's my car and I'm paying it off. (By I, I mean we. Matt married into this fun one. :p) Booth the snazzy blue Saturn might not be a family car (or look mature at all) but it is my car. :) And now I hate that it's blue because that's not practical and it's always dirty, but it makes me smile remembering picking it out. :p

I was asked to speak in Seminary graduation, and I think I did a pretty good job. I know, my dad's the seminary teacher so maybe people assumed that I'd be good by association. Unfortunately I didn't inherit his oratory skills and it scares me to death to get up in front of people. After the program, though, I had a lot of people compliment me on my talk. Whether that was because I maybe did alright this time, or whether it was because they pitied me who knows. ;) But I made it through without dying on the podium, which I think is definitely an accomplishment.

I haven't had my baby yet, or really understand what it's like to be a mom, but I think it's an accomplishment that Matt and I were willing to listen to the counsel from Heavenly Father and start our family now. (At first I wasn't sure about the timing of all this, but looking back on things I feel like it's played out exactly how Heavenly Father planned. This baby has been a tender mercy in a lot of ways. :) )

#15 of 30

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

Well. This is that one question that you get all the time at get to know you games and such, and I never ever know what my answer is! I'm not a big enough animal lover (besides thinking, wow they're cute/scary/stinky/whatever else) to know much about the 'personalities' of animals? 

Maybe I'd be a platypus because I'm so strange? ;) (That and I love Perry.)

... That's it. I'm taking a steriotypical personality quiz. Please hold:

Haha... ok. Result #1: A porcupine. 

"Porcupines are physically small individuals with an over-abundance of attitude. Probably due to their lack of self-esteem, they have a tendency to seek comfort by putting others down and wit, sarcasm and ridicule are the primary weapons of its oftentimes disagreeable personality."

(I'm not a very nice animal apparently.)

 

Result #2: (because who wants to stick with a porcupine? ... No pun intended.)

Hyena

You are a hyena. You have great stamina and work well together with others. You usually vocalize your thoughts and feelings, and are very intelligent. You're bold and tend to go with the flow, fearlessly wondering what's ahead.  
 (This might be more accurate considering the fact I was always getting in trouble for being too loud and obnoxious at family gatherings. I apparently have a very distinctive and noisy laugh. :p Especially when playing with cousins.)
Well... I would have thought something way more glamorous. ;) Just kidding just kidding. 

So I'm a porcupine hyena. There you have it people. :p

#14 out of 30

Describe 5 of your strengths:

I think I'm pretty good at being empathetic. I kind of hate it sometimes because 'I just have a lot of feelings'. ;) I don't love reading the news for this reason because I just have this super real desire to go hug all these people who have been hurt by someone else or who made the choices that hurt other people. (For example: Matt and I just saw Captain Phillips for a date last week, and I still wake up in the middle of the night and feel so sick for the poor Simali man who was the only pirate that survived and was sent to prison. I feel sick for the younger pirate that was killed in order to save Captain Phillips, and I feel so tender for Captain Phillips and having to live through seeing what he did and being treated the way he was. That'd be so emotionally traumatizing!! Oh my word. I seriously couldn't sleep the night we watched it because I was feeling all these mixed emotions about it all. I'm not kidding, I literally couldn't stop feeling awful for them all until I said a prayer for them. Cheesy maybe, but hey. Heavenly Father still cares about them and it made me feel a little better. :p )
I mean, I even get way too invested in feeling bad for fictional characters when I read books or watch movies. I'm pretty positive it's gotten more intense since I found out I was pregnant. I can't decide if that's the hormones, or if realizing you're going to have a little piece of you walking around outside your body changes your perspective on everything. :)

I'm good at smiling. (Usually. I guess I should say I can be. :p I hope I still come across that way even when I'm sick and grumpy on the inside.) When I worked at Bryce Canyon some of my co-workers kind of made fun of me for being so smiley and nice to the customers. But I really enjoyed feeling like maybe I made a difference in their day by being happy. I'm telling you, it's contagious. It's pretty fun to watch it spread.

I haven't always been good at this, but I've learned to be good at apologizing. (Haha. Which might just go to show that I have far more weaknesses than strengths that I've always got to be saying sorry for. ;p)
It's pretty amazing what a genuinely spoken two words can do for a tense situation. Apologizing doesn't erase everything, but it does go a long way.

I really can't think of anything else right now so for the last two I'll tell you what I'm working on and hope to make into strengths. Deal? Deal.

I want to be good at letting people learn. My mom is awesome at letting us do things for ourselves and learn hands on. I know for a fact that it's much easier to do things yourself rather than wait for someone to figure it out on their own- but I want to be the kind of person who is a good teacher because I let others figure things out for themselves. (Especially as a mother.)

I want to make seeing the good in everything one of my strengths. I think I was onto this concept a little bit when I worked at Bryce, I had a pretty darn good attitude the majority of the time. Then I got sucked into the little things in life and forgot that it takes effort for me to be positive. :p So I'm working on making that comeback. Don't you always appreciate running into people who are kind and positive and only have good things to say about everyone and everything? It's refreshing. I think it's kind of the same as smiling, being positive is contagious and I want to be someone who starts a little bit of sunshine going around. :)

#13 out of 30

Describe 5 weaknesses you have:

I am impatient. It seems like I'm always going through some sort of new 'patience teaching trial'. One of these days I'll learn how to just take life as it comes and trust in Heavenly Father's timing, and be able to have better empathy and patience for people... until then I'll just keep learning it the hard way I guess haha.

When I have a plan for how things are supposed to go, and then (like 95% of the time in life) when things don't go 'according to plan' I have a tendency to get really frustrated about it. I guess this kind of ties into the patience thing, but this one is one that drives Matt crazy. Because it's not the end of the world if we leave for a weekend trip an hour later, or if we do the grocery shopping before we do something else, or whatever it is. I'm learning to stop acting like everything is life or death if it doesn't happen the way I've imagined it. ;) 

Time management for me is pretty hit and miss. Sometimes I do ok with it, but that's usually when I've been in school and had more to balance. It kind of forces you to prioritize your time wisely. Now that I'm staying at home more often without an agenda that someone else follows up on with me (like teachers, or bosses, or other people in the leadership callings) I don't always do things sensibly. It's kind of silly, because I know life would run more smoothly if I'd just manage my time and stop wasting it on pinterest or facebook or whatever, but I keep doing it. (Sigh. First world problems. ;) ) 

I swear I have ADD. I struggle to stay focused and finish the tasks I've started. I'll start a load of laundry, forget about it and go to organize the closet. Just when all of the junk is pulled out and I'm starting to sort it, I get distracted and clean my bathroom, then remember that I started laundry so I'll go and finish that, then remember I haven't eaten yet so I'll start to make something for lunch, and then get distracted again and go fold some clothes and then....

(I guess I should tell you this is only the worst case scenario, and I'm not always that bad... but some days I seriously feel like I have a million tabs open in my brain and I keep forgetting to just finish one at a time. :p)

I am easily guilt tripped. Now. I'm not sure my parents would have agreed with you a few years ago? You'll have to ask them. :p 

Now Matt will put on the guilt trips to have me go buy some bullets or a treat or something that isn't really that big of a deal but if I ever say no, I end up feeling so guilty and mean for the rest of the day. This is going to be a huge problem with my parenting if I can't get over that haha. (They'll get away with everything otherwise!!)

I guess I just feel guilty easily, because the same thing applies to the times I think, "Hey, I should scrape Matt's windows" but then I'm running late so I don't and then I spend the next hour feeling like I'm a selfish mean wife ha. 

#12 out of 30

Describe a typical day in your life right now:

Well... there's two versions. The work version, and the 'It's my day off and I'm a total lazy bum' version.
On the days I work, I usually wake up to Matt's alarm (a few times, since he really loves his snooze button ;) ) around 6:30, I lounge in bed for another thirty minutes and by then Matt usually offers to bring me some breakfast so I don't get sick. (Isn't he the greatest??) So I eat my breakfast while I look at (this is the part where I wish I could say, my scriptures, or the ensign or something more worth while) facebook or instagram or pinterest. I know, right? I need to change some habits. After that I jump in the shower, and put on one of two sets of scrubs that I still actually fit in and pull my hair back- mostly because I'm lazy but also because my hair gets SUPER static-y at work. I'll start my car at 8:10ish so it's warm and defrosted by the time I leave, come back and say a prayer with Matt, pack some snacks and head off to work.
It depends on how crazy our patient schedule is, but I typically have a fair amount of down time at work. I'll refill all the paperwork folders, and tidy things up or work on projects between patients most days. Sometimes I just don't have anything to do, and in those cases I usually look for some recipes on pinterest, or blog/read blogs. I go to my mom's house for lunch, because it's closer, and help them out with some leftovers ;) before taking a quick nap. (Thank goodness for 1 hour lunch breaks!) Four more hours of greeting patients, sticking electrodes on people, and dealing with insurance paperwork, and I'm on my way home! If I'm feeling like an especially good human being I'll make a legit dinner. Otherwise I'm warming up leftovers or plopping some grilled cheese onto a skillet.
If Matt has time I'll visit with him, but a lot of evenings I'm either reading or wasting time on my phone while sitting in my new rocking chair and dying over tiny diapers and clothes laid out. :p

Non work days are a lot like my mornings on work days. Except extend the sitting in bed wasting my time for another hour. :p (I feel so unproductive telling you this!) I sometimes make Matt some eggs for breakfast when he's running late, or something like that, and then wander around and do a little bit of tidying in my pajamas after he's gone for classes. Then I take obnoxiously long hot showers- just because I can- and let my hair air dry while I work on some other project or read. Lately a lot of my days off have consisted of appointments so in those cases I actually hustle my buns to get ready and get out of the house on time. I did sign up for an institute class, but here's the part where I confess and justify. (Confession: I've sluffed for the past two weeks. :/ I know. Awful right? Here's the justification. The first two times were because I had an appointment that ran a little late and then I was sick. And then I realized I was ok with having excuses because I feel so out of place. I'm in a HUGE class of people and not a single one of them is married. (haha... a single one of them... married. Ok dry humor, moving on.) And since no one is married, definitely no one is pregnant in there. So I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb. I also feel like it's a very flirty social environment, and they're all students and I'm not in either of those categories so I just feel weird and alone in a big room. Don't get me wrong- I love reading the manual, and I think it's so fun to be in the classroom with my Uncle Lloyd- he does such a great job. I just also feel way out of place. Matt said I should at least try going to one of the married institute classes in the evening. But then I'm the only spouse-less married person in the class because Matt's schedule doesn't work to take one with me. Guess I should just put my big girl panties on and do it anyway huh. Ok. Justification rant over.)
Tuesdays are usually laundry days, and when it's time to go shopping again I try to go earlier in the day on either Tuesday or Thursday so I don't end up having to fight the Saturday crowds.
If I'm procrastinating either of those, I like to visit either my mom or Grandma Marilyn. :) And if my dad has his prep sometimes I get to see him too. I've been telling myself I should practice the piano again while I still have access to one. :) When we move for grad school and I can't go over to my moms and play when I feel like it, I'm going to miss music!
My evenings on days off are usually the same as when I work. It just depends on what Matt's doing.


So, there you have it! My semi boring life! :p Ok so it's not a boring life, I just feel like I sound so boring. I should start taking photography adventures or something like that. Or go check out all the random stores/shops in Cedar just for fun.

(In unrelated news... Dr. Williams interviewed the first applicant this morning (and I love her! I really think she's going to be the one he picks.) and we've got the other two interviews this afternoon. As well as this huge schedule of new patients and all sorts of chaotic fun. :p I'm telling you, ever single time I'm having a sick day and I think, "Oh, at least it's a slow day at the office so I won't totally die", Dr. Williams gets calls on the day off before and schedules the entire city in one afternoon. Haha. Good grief. Maybe it's a good thing, though, because it does keep me preoccupied so I don't have time to really think about how miserable I feel. So hooray for that at least. :) )

Happy Friday everyone! Drive safe in all this snow! (Also, I'm pretty sure it only snows on the days I work so I can't even just curl up with a book and a warm quilt and enjoy the perfect reading weather. :p)

#11 out of 30

List 10 of your pet peeves:

Alrighty... so in all honesty it kind of depends on how much sleep I've gotten for the day and where my hormone levels are (from smooth sailing to raging homicidal sobbing woman...) and if I'm hungry or not too probably. Basically I guess I'm human and sometimes things don't annoy me and other times I don't even like hearing myself breathe. (Pregnancy has been interesting with this side of things. I've definitely been learning how to be a nice human being despite feeling like a crazy individual.)

1- Slurping. Oh goodness, I guarantee there is nothing that can't be eaten without having to slurp it. Same goes for drinking. :p

2- Ya know when you're in class and there's one person who is absolutely against getting a tissue so they sit and sniff loudly approximately every 23 seconds? Yup. That's my favorite. ;)

3- Being interrupted. Which is ironic because I definitely struggle with interrupting others. :/ Oops! I try to always be aware of it and stop myself but... ya know. It happens.

4- Stupid lies. Like... I don't know. When people are obviously making up a story or they are obviously lying about something silly. It just seems... pointless?

5- I don't know if this can even be considered a pet peeve, because if someone else has a muscle twitch, I mean I feel for ya. If I have a muscle twitch? I'm ready to amputate. (Scalpel!)

6- Sometimes drivers like to step on the gas really hard and fast and slam on the brakes. That's probably pretty common. When drivers like to do that on little back residential roads (and other such places where you know you're going to come to a stop again in like seven feet) it drives me insane. I promise you don't actually get where you're going any faster if you give everyone whiplash between stop signs. :p (That being said, I am again guilty of doing this sometimes. Usually it's when I'm by myself- I think- and I'm just in a hurry because I'm late for work or something. And then my logical reasoning goes right out the window apparently because I join the throngs.)

7-When people think they know your job better than you do. When working with the public, this happens fairly often too. So I've learned that I need to get better at smiling and having empathy and singing 'they are a child of God' when that happens so I don't get so annoyed. :p

8- When there's someone sitting behind you and they find great satisfaction in kicking the back of your chair or your chair legs or something like that... maybe if it was rapid fire then it'd feel like a massage chair? But it's usually the bored, rhythmic type.

9- When people talk or are disruptive during a concert or play, or really any kind of performance. It's super disrespectful, and I guess I thought everyone had been taught concert (/play/performance attending) etiquette? Turns out I was mislead. ;)

10- ... I can't think of any more.

After writing all this down I feel like the orneriest, meanest person ever! And like I need a major attitude adjustment. I feel like I should write down ten things that I like about people in general. Like when nice old ladies become your best bud in Wal-Mart check out lines, or when people let you merge into a different lane in traffic. Or when people give you sincere compliments, or when you watch someone do something thoughtful for another person, or when people are truly considerate and respectful to everyone. (I promise I'm not just a grumpy scrooge! The next post needs to be a nice thing to write about, hah)

#10 out of 30

Describe your most embarrassing moment:

Oh heavens. I have several. I mentioned in one of the other posts that Matt is the kind of person that doesn't let things bother him so he's honestly NEVER embarrassed.

Well I'm kind of the opposite. I've gotten a lot better over the past few years, I decided I hate feeling embarrassed and stewing over it for days afterwards so I needed to learn how to laugh things off. Sometimes it works but I'm still usually embarrassed anyway. Haha

... And now that I've really talked up my arsenal of embarrassing moments I'm having a hard time coming up with a mortifying one to tell you about. 

There was one time I thought I should probably drop out of school and hide under my bed for the rest of my life when I was in 8th (?) grade. 

The National Guard came to Piute High for some reason or another, and they brought a climbing wall to set up in our commons. Before I tell you about why I had to climb it even though I'm scared of heights, let me rewind to that morning. 

Eighth grade Shannon was obnoxiously boy crazy. So she got up early all the time and had all sorts of ambition to look as cute as possible in attempts to snag her crushes attention. (No worries, it never really worked, just caused drama.) So I had on a super cute pink sweater that had a wide neckline. Well as most girls will agree with me, you can't just wear a regular bra with wide necklines, because then you have strap struggles. I had a strapless bra that was more of a sports bra with the option to remove the straps? I'm not sure who thought it was a good idea to invent those because... well. Yeah. I'm getting ahead of myself.

So. Of course initially I didn't want to climb the wall, but then there was the boy of my heart's desires standing right there so I had to show off or something. (cue eyeroll) In my cute pink sweater without any strap struggles. 

I got about halfway up the climbing wall when suddenly I was feeling a bit more... free. 

(Insert small panic attack here.)

I was still going up but my bra was going down! And there were lots of students (and my CRUSH) standing at the bottom of the wall.

I promptly decided to repel down and shove my coat back on in record time. My friends were asking why didn't just finish, I was getting so close to the top! Why did I give up? 

... Well. Because my bra gave up. That's why.

I'm pretty sure I thought my world was about to end. :p 

But look at me now! Seven(ish) years later, still living and stuff. ;) Good thing my 8th grade figure didn't have much to show. However, I'm pretty sure I didn't take off my coat for the rest of the day. Haha Oh middle school.

#9 out of 30 (and a small job opportunity)

Ok ladies and gents, quick interjection before I ramble some more for this 30 things series. ;)
In case it's not obvious yet, I'm pregnant. (Woah! No way.) Therefore I'm going to have to quit my job, since there's only one of me here and no one can cover or hold my spot for a maternity leave, I'm just done here for good. Well, Dr. Williams didn't want me just putting it all over facebook, because last time he tried that he got some... interesting applicants? (I don't even know the whole story but I thought it would have been entertaining. :p) So here's my way around that. I don't know how else to spread the word without posting it somewhere... I'm antisocial and I don't get to see all of you face to face- not to mention I usually don't just strike up conversations with, "So I need you to replace me at my job and...".
But really. We do need more applicants. So, I've been working at Cedar City Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, it's at 1180 S. Sage Dr, Suite E (right next to Ninja, and Dickey's). I'm the 'Office Manager' for lack of a better word. Basically I've done receptionist things, and the office upkeep, as well as get patients started on a couple of different therapies that don't require a diploma from a chiropractic school. ;) It's part time, we're open Monday and Wednesday from 9-6 and Friday from 9-5.  (I usually average 23-25 hours a week.) It's pretty laid back, and drama free (except for when you get the really fun patients that are dramatic... but then it's just kind of entertainment value rather than workplace drama, right?). So. We don't have an application, but Dr. Williams is taking resume's and you can introduce yourself to him. My last day here is February 21st (since I haven't already said that in all my other posts haha) so he'd probably hire the second week of Feb so you could start training. :)
Anywho.... enough of my sales pitch, pass it on if you know anyone who's looking for a job. :)


And now for number 10 out of 30....
List 10 people who have influenced you and explain how:

Seriously? Ok have you guys heard the song, "For Good" from the Broadway musical Wicked??
(If not go listen... you'll love it. One of the girls from Frozen- which I still have yet to see- is voiced by Idina Menzel, who is Elphaba in Wicked... good stuff.)
Part of the song says, "I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn. ... You'll be with me like a hand print on my heart..."
I think I have at least a billion hand prints. I mean there are some tourists I met while I was working at Bryce that still come to mind every once in a while, and I think about the way they made me feel or what they helped me learn.
Now remember the part where I have incredible family? And then I married into incredible family. Remember how I've been blessed to have been in great wards with wonderful leaders.
And now tell me to pick only ten? ;) So, just so ya know, I think you're all great and honest to goodness, everyone reading this has probably influenced and taught me in one way or another.
(PS, these aren't in any particular order...)

1- Grammie Marilyn.
If you know my grandma you know she's probably the most patient, Christ-like examples you've ever met. My cousin Beans has a famous wisdom teeth removal quote when he said he only knew of 3 people that were a '10'. God, Ghandi, and Grandma Marilyn. That basically sums it up. ;) Gram is always, always doing something for someone else. She's always saying sweet prayers for all her kids and grand kids, and neighbor's kids, and... everyone! And I'm pretty sure that every time we've had a scary moment or trial in life we've called up for some "Grammie Marilyn prayers". I love to listen to her pray, you can absolutely without a doubt tell that she is talking to her Father in Heaven- and that he is definitely listening. Grandma is really good at teaching everyone through her example.

2- Grandma Barton.
For one, Grandma Barton is a fabulous cook. The only problem is she cooks like my mom does, (and I think her mother...) which means that there is a serious lack of recipes. :) She knows how to throw things together until it looks right and it always tastes amazing! Grandma Barton scrambled eggs are still my favorite scrambled eggs ever, and her meals are just perfect. I don't think I've ever eaten something at her house that I didn't like.
Another thing that I've always admired about grandma, is that she has a knack for learning, and she loves it. She's always reading, but she doesn't just read fluff (like I do.) When I was living with them she always had something new to teach me that she learned from what she was reading. Grandma Barton isn't afraid to have her own opinion, but she's never ever forceful or mean about it. She's got a quiet strength so she can be firm, but you always still feel completely loved and cared for. :) When I was little and was about to 'run away' and pout I remember she stopped me and told me I didn't need to do that, but I didn't feel scolded. I hope someday I can figure out that balance too. :)

3- Mrs. Esplin, my AP English teacher.
For one, she had us read a play score (A Raisin in the Sun, I think) and managed to help me like it. I usually think play scores are boring. I'd rather watch the play or read a book in story form. :p
Mrs. Esplin has such a great sense of humor, but knew how to get us all back to work. The thing that I appreciate the most about her, though, is the ability she has to make all her students feel important and loved. I remember after she found out about a rough patch I was going through, she pulled me into her office and just gave me a big, teary hug. :)

4- My Mom. :)
You got a run down of how awesome both my parents are in #3 of 30... so you obviously know that they've taught me and influenced me in countless ways. Blame my hormones, but today I'm really stuck on how I'd like to just be the clone of my mom as a mother when Jaden and other babies get to our house. :)
She was the one who was home with us all day, so I think we got way more discipline from my mom than my dad, but she always 'showed an increase of love afterward'. I love that she spent so much time reading to us, and that she always made sure we had books and things to learn from around our home. I love that she was always making play dough and letting us completely destroy her clean kitchen with our creations. ;) I love that she made us feel like we were the trickiest kids in the world when she'd watch us show off on the trampoline. (Guys. We were not the trickiest kids in the world. But she made us feel that way.) I love that she made sure that Erin and I weren't forgotten or left out when the twins were born.
I also really love that my mom is a missionary. There's a song, The Light from an EFY cd that I remember my mom playing when we'd be in the car and talking about how it made her feel on fire with the gospel and like she needed to do more to be a light and share what we believe. She's made friends and been able to do that over the years, and I admire the way she does. She's not pushy, she just shares what she loves with those she cares about. She's a genuine friend first, and her example kind of takes care of the rest. :) (That's something that I feel like I really struggle with, so hopefully I can learn to be more like her.)

5- My dad.
I feel like my dad is really good at being level headed and calm when we're in trouble. That sounds... I don't know what. But I mean it as a compliment, haha. I feel like it'd be hard not to just yell and be frustrated when your kids are defiant and just blatantly ignore what you've asked them to do or not to do. (Which... ya know... I did sometimes.) My dad is good at keeping his voice calm and talking through things with us. He's pretty even tempered. My dad also has this awesome gift for teaching and speaking. I'm jealous that he can get up and be sitting on the stand in church listening to the first people give their talks, and if he gets the feeling he needs to talk about something else he can just whip out a different talk in like five minutes. Do you know how fun it'd be to be able to do that? I used to think that it was just something he had, that maybe I didn't inherit. Now I realize it's because he spends so much time with the Lord in the scriptures. He's prepared lots and lots of lessons and talks and so he's familiar with the gospel in a way that I'm not (yet). I've learned from him that it's really important to be that familiar with the scriptures and gospel teachings, especially now in our society. There's so much in there that helps us through every single obstacle we might face, but we have to have read it and know it before it'll do us any good. Right? :)

6- Sherida, my PE Teacher/YW leader/Volleyball coach/....
Sherida was in a lot of different areas of my life when we lived in Piute, and besides having one of the brightest outlooks on life that I've seen, she was someone who helped me see me. I've never been the most self confident person, and so when I was doing the 7th-8th grade volleyball stuff I wasn't bad... I just was shy and undermined myself a lot because I didn't feel like I was as good as any of the other girls. Sherida sat me down and told me I could do it, that I had the ability, I just needed to give myself some credit and believe in myself. Obviously I'm not a sports star by any means, but I'm pretty sure I got better after that because I felt more confident. She helped me learn that it's ok to think you're ok. :)

7- My sisters. (Yes, that's a 4-in-1 and maybe cheating... we're going with it.)
Each of them have their strengths that I admire and have learned from, and they're turning into some of my very best friends as the years go by. :) Maybe we're all finally growing up. ;)
Erin- from the time she was little she was always a more sensitive little soul. She was very sensitive to things that were wrong- they upset her more than they did me. In elementary she stood up to a little girl for what she believed and didn't let the other little girl bully her out of it. Erin's also one of the fastest readers I've ever known and she retains it really well. (She must be related to Grandma Barton!)
Marissa- is the happy as a whistle kid. :) I admire the way things don't fluff her feathers too much. She's also a constant source of laughter and entertainment because she's ok with being her. :)
Megan- is always aware of how to present herself. She always looks put together, and she's aware of how to act in situations. And I think she's a more tender hearted person. :)
Brianne- is our mad scientist, and artist. She got a clay kit for Christmas and she's made some of the coolest little minions and tiny owls out of it that are honest to goodness impressive. I can't ever make things look the way I want them to, and she's good at things like that. And I think Bri is a fairly self confident person- which is a big deal in our family because we've all been super bashful. She seems pretty comfortable in her own skin and I hope she hangs onto that. :)

8- Cherene, my aunt. :)
Aunt Cherene has always invested a lot of time into her nieces and nephews. We used to have niece and nephew parties almost every year before everyone got older and acquired super busy schedules. :) These weren't just, 'oh let's hang out together' parties, these were elaborately planned out, themed parties. My favorite is still the CSI party that she did for Aubree, Justin and I. We had CSI t-shirts, she turned us loose on SUU campus with our little new watches to find all the clues. (One of them required us to buy something at the food court, which is always a good clue right? ;) ) We even did fingerprinting with super glue and plastic baggies to get prints off of plastic cups. Pretty sweet right?
Aunt Cherene has also made sure that we had opportunities to enjoy the arts via plays. :) I've really come to love and appreciate plays because of her. And I now enjoy 'rhapsodizing' because she took us to see Cyrano de Bergerac. (Which is still one of my favorites!) I talk like I know Brian Vaughn personally as a best buddy now too haha. (I have babysat his oldest daughter though, thanks to Child Care!) Aunt Cherene has a fun and creative outlook on everything too. :) Some of my best quotes in my quote book come from her! I've been pretty lucky to have another mother figure through her.

9- Matt.
Matt is the peanut butter to my jelly, and the practical to my drama. ;) He really does balance me out so well, which has taught me a lot of things since he tends to be more of my opposites. He's responsible when I'm too spontaneous, he's humorous when I'm grumpy, he's prayerful when I'm worried about things, and he's patient when I'm... well, not. :p When I met him in church, although I did see his dashing good looks, the first thing I noticed was that he was genuinely doing his calling. And then that he was genuinely paying attention in Sunday school and sharing his thoughts in a way that didn't scream, "Hey ladies, look how spiritual I am." (Which... I mean, in a singles ward that's kind of the vibe you get a lot of times.) When we finally started talking and we went for a drive up Ephraim Canyon and talked for 6 hours straight :p I was impressed with the importance he put on the gospel and his family, and again, it didn't come across as showing off how spiritual and great he was. It was genuine. (I think that's probably my top word to describe Matt, actually. Genuine.) Another thing that I'm learning from him (emphasis on learnING. As in it's definitely still a work in progress) is not to let things embarrass or bother me. I don't think anything ever embarrasses Matt. Like honestly. I can't think of a time that I've seen him embarrassed, or even heard him say that he ever was. He just doesn't let things get to him. :) And I like that, because he's always himself no matter who he's around.

10- Everyone else! :) Haha but seriously I can't narrow it down. I want to just write about every cool person in my life! I've watched lots of friends and family members take on some really tough trials with amazing strength. So... there's my cheater last one. :) I think you all are beautiful, wonderful, and inspirational people. :) Thanks for being YOU!

#8 out of 30

What are five passions you have right now?

1- Music. This one was an easy one. Even though I don't look like I'm as into music as those who are studying at Julliard or something like that... I do love it. One of my big regrets in life is quitting music lessons. Usually because I hated practicing. (I mean goodness, it interfered with my oh so important social life! How could I not quit? ;) Haha) I'm blessed to have a musical mom who taught us piano lessons from the time we were little. Before we were good at playing I loved listening to her practice the piano. We'd go in the living room where she was playing and make up dances that 'matched' the songs. (For example... Witches Dance. Sisters, who remembers that?) I love the way the piano sounds, I love how much expression you can put into the music and I love being able to use the piano as an outlet for emotions. My dad commented once that he could always tell when I was upset about something because I'd play the piano. (Until that point I never really noticed that I played more when I was flustered.) 

Then my mom got us signed up for violin lessons. Staci in Circleville was a great teacher! My dad was a patient parent listening to us screech while we first were figuring everything out. But I didn't love playing by myself as much as I loved playing in Orchestra after we moved to Cedar. There's something absolutely incredible about being a part of a group making music. I mean, I think I could be addicted to it. You feel so empowered, so alive! We had an awesome teacher, even if he was a little different and insisted on being called "Dr. Neves". ;) He had us play scores from Pirates of the Carribean, Lord of the Rings, and complex classical pieces, not to mention the semi bizarre modern pieces that sound kind of like coordinated crap/chaos. :p 

Then when I decided to find some courage and finally try out for Madrigals, I discovered how much I love singing too. :) I still like it better when I'm in a choir setting, I can't sing by myself or else my face twitches and I lose any ability I maybe thought I had to begin with. It's bad. But in a choir setting it's kind of the same 'high' as with an orchestra. Music is powerful, and so to be part of making incredible music feels pretty great. :) I loved singing the dissonant songs in Mads, like 'Sleep' by Eric Whittacre. It was just fun. I really miss those two aspects of being in high school. The rest I can definitely live without. ;)

2- Relationships. I was going to say family. And friends. But really the part that I love the most is sitting down with the people I care about and talking. Sometimes it's discussing dramatic goings on in our lives, sometimes it's serious talks about things that are hard right now, sometimes it's remembering times we've had fun together... I just love talking with the people that I love. It's very satisfying to come away from being with someone that I have a good relationship with and feeling like we've both been recharged somehow by the time spent together. I think that makes me a total extrovert? 

3- Pictures. I. Love. Pictures. I love taking them, I love looking at them, and I even sometimes love being in them. I'm funny, I don't ever want to ask to be in pictures- that just seems attention starved of me or something? But I do love it when I have pictures that I'm in from past times that I can look at and remember, "Oh yeah, I felt pretty cute that day, isn't that funny? I mean can you see my shirt?" or "Hey, I wasn't as awful as I thought I was, I should have liked myself more." It helps you remember those memories better. (insert cliche about a picture being worth 1,000 words) 

I love how sometimes it makes me feel so giddy to see pictures where the lighting is just perfect, or where the contrast of colors just really catches your eye. I like how pictures can bring out emotion without having to go into depth explaining things. 

And of course, I love those few times when I can take a picture that is like that. :) I'm learning... someday I'll make myself have the attention span to really sit down and learn what I want to so I can be better at taking pictures. Until then I'll just enjoy taking mediocre pictures. ;)

4- Seeing new places/ "Going on adventures". So... not all my adventures are actually all that 'adventurous' by definition. I'm not as risky as that involves I guess. :p But I do like experiencing new things. I remember a few years ago when my parents said we were going to Mesa Verde for a summer vacation I was a little bummed at first. Ruins didn't sound nearly as inviting as, oh, say Disneyland? (I have an addiction to Disney. And Disneyland. I guess I could probably write a whole page on my passion for Disney- maybe I will! ;) ) Once we got on the trip and we drove through some gorgeous Colorado scenery and hiked some absolutely incredible ruins... I decided this was a pretty great adventure! We window shopped in Durango and saw a train museum (which again, I wasn't sure what I

thought about museum-ing, but I LOVE it now!) and I saw new places and new people and I loved the way it made me feel. This summer when Matt and I road tripped to Nebraska, I felt the same way. It was so fun to see the differences between Cedar and Holdredge, and enjoy the different 'feel' of the places we visited. 

I'm so nervous for grad school, because I've never lived more than 3 hours away from my parents, but at the same time I'm pretty excited for all the new adventures we'll get to have with our little chunk in tow. (At least I hope he's a little chunk.)

5- Since I couldn't think of anything else, I really am going to do Disney. But with a more thoughtful sounding title:

I am passionate about being able to stay a kid, and appreciate imagination.

(This would be Lion King in the pasture ;) )

When I was little I was never myself. I was a lion, or a woman from the 1800's, or a World War (1 or 2 really) nurse or secretary. I was a dog lots of times, or a diver, or Mulan, or a princess, or a character from a book. My sisters and I had so much fun pretending! I think it's important to be able to pretend, I think it teaches kids lots of different things. 

Now that I'm older, I love watching the way little kids discover the world and how they see things. Wouldn't it be great if everyone saw the world as a big magical place with so many amazing things? 

I think that's why I love Disneyland, honestly. I'm not even all that crazy for the big scary rides, and it's not that I think the 'kid' rides are more exciting... I just love all the cute detail. I love how you can pretend you're having tea with the madhatter, or that you're escaping

(Disneyland)

from all those Woozles with Winnie the Pooh. I love that it sets imagination up for you to run wild with. :) That's also why I loved the Mayan restaurant, or any other themed restaurant for that matter. I like being able to pretend again. (I know, right? At my age? I should probably be embarrassed or something. ;) I'm not though... I still catch myself getting carried away in daydreams and pretending my laundry away. Haha)

I think that everyone has some 'little kid' in them still, I just think that some people have decided that we're supposed to get rid of that in order to be adults. I think adults who can stay in touch with that side are way more fun and creative. :) 

(I'm not even sure if this last one made any sense, I just know that I love imagination so much! I really hope our kids are imaginative. I don't think that kids get to be kids as much as they should anymore, which is really sad. They grow up too fast. I'm kind of determined to make sure that's not the case in our little family but I also hope that doesn't mean that they'll be made fun of. It seems like different isn't ok in today's society unless it's the 'fad different'. Anyway, that's a different ramble for a different day.)

#7 out of 30

What is your dream job, and why?

That's a hard one! I feel like right now I'm in limbo, and I don't really know what I'd want to do. I finished my Pharmacy Tech certification, and when I had the opportunity to do job shadowing with cute Becky from my ward I absolutely LOVED compounding in a pharmacy. It's like mad scientist meets Julia Childs. 

I always thought I would love being a receptionist because I'm weird and I really like putting paperwork together and faxing and shredding papers and typing and keeping an office organized. Guess what? I have really liked being a receptionist! The only thing I haven't really loved about my job now is how stressful it gets when we're busy because I'm more of an office manager/receptionist/therapy assistant. Which means you're being pulled in a million directions when you have a full waiting room, phones ringing, and patients in all the exam rooms. :) It's been really good though, and I like the front desk aspect of it.

I have loved cameras and taking pictures since I was little and I got a (super) cheap film camera from a dollar store and took it all over Circleville documenting every haystack and undersides of bridges and sister antics. :) I always thought it'd be so much fun to be a really great photographer and just be able to take pictures of fun people and spend my days looking through and editing my work. I LOVE looking at pictures. What would be better than doing that for your job? My only problem with that is I haven't taken the time I really need to, to be good at using my DSLR, and I'm pretty sure every Mormon mommy blogger has a side photography business, as well as all the lucky kids in high school with parents that buy them cameras. So I'd feel like just another wannabe. I wish I could have taken a photography class in college, that would have been so much fun and so helpful!

My biggest problem with this question is I really don't want to have a job for the next like... 20 something years while I've got kids at home. I just want to be able to be at home like my mom was when I was little. I want to do food coloring 'cooking' in the kitchen with them, and make huge playdough messes and be there to hear about their day as soon as they get off the bus from school. 

I'm not even sure I answered the question? My dream job is not having a 'job' until I'm a bored empty nester, and then the previously mentioned options will go into a hat that I'll draw out of. ;) How does that sound?

#6 out of 30

Number 6 out of 30: What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

Is it just me or are these questions getting harder? I mean how do you pick the one thing that was the absolute hardest thing you've ever gone through? Life is full of rough patches, that's what makes us who we are. It's how we learn and grow.
I could tell you about High School. Enough said there. ;p I could tell you about how I assumed my life would play out exactly like my moms and so when I seriously dated a returned missionary my freshman year of college, I was sure I'd marry him. We had even talked about it, and browsed over rings online for one of our dates. We even decided to pray about it, and while I was feeling good about everything, he didn't get the same answer. It really shook me up, and frustrated me with trying to understand how Heavenly Father could give us different answers for the same question. (Plus it kind of hurt my feelings thinking the answers were that way because he was good enough for me but I wasn't for him or something? Plus then he tried to stay friends and all that fun sticky situation stuff.) I could tell you about failing my entire freshman year of college and losing my scholarship and wasting the money my parents and grandparents put toward helping me stay for the second semester. I felt like such a failure in life for not being in school like every other person my age when fall semester came around again. I could tell you about choosing to be around people who weren't good influences and getting into really painful situations because of that. 
Like I said, there are lots of hard things that we go through, but I think the important part of this question is the invisible follow up: And then what?  All those things I could talk about have taught me a little more about me. One of my favorite 'quotes' (that I'm not going to directly quote because I have no idea where it's originally from or how exactly it's worded) is that we're not here on earth to create who we are, but to remember who we are.  I think that going through those times that really stretch us thin and tear down what we think we know about ourselves, are the very same things that build up our memory of who we were before we came.  I learned from high school that the little things in the gospel are the big things, and that families are there to teach us and try to help us avoid making mistakes. I learned from my non-existent-freshman-year-engagement that agency is a big part of getting answers to prayers, that sometimes we get answers to give us bigger answers, (for example after I dated that young man I realized more of what I wanted in who I would marry and I finally got that I didn't have to settle. And lookie here! A yearish later I found Matt, and this time our answers matched! ;) ) and that you can ask Heavenly Father to change someone else but He won't... He can't. (There's that agency thing again.) The only person you can ask Him to change is yourself, and if you can humble yourself then He can help you learn and grow in amazing ways. From failing that first year of college I learned that I'm not stupid, I just have a tendency to give up when things get overwhelming. I learned how to apply myself because of my consequence of choosing to fail- working that whole summer and fall semester at Bryce Canyon- and I learned that I actually enjoy being in school. I enjoy proving to myself that I can do it, and I enjoy learning new things.  When I allowed myself to be around harmful relationships, I learned that forgiveness is hard, and sometimes you can't forgive others by yourself. I learned even more about the atonement (both from repenting of stupid decisions and from finally realizing that I could lean on the Savior and borrow his forgiveness for others until I could learn to forgive them.) I also learned that who you choose to surround yourself with is who you'll ultimately learn to act like. When I found friends and people to associate with who respected themselves I learned to respect myself. :) 
And now I'm going through this new experience in being pregnant and preparing to become a mother, and it's not always easy. Physically it's difficult and uncomfortable, and mentally it's daunting. Because I've gone through all the other 'hard times', though, I'm not worried about if I'll make it through this new chapter full of learning curves. I've seen the Savior strengthen me in times before when I had no idea what I was doing or how I was going to get to the next stage of my life, and I know without any doubt that he can do that again. :) 
(...aaand stepping off my soap box.)

#5 out of 30

What are the five things that make you the most happy right now?

These are hard lists to come up with! I either can't think of enough, or I have at least seven billion things to say and I have to limit it to five. :p

1- Being married to my best friend. Cliche? Yes. But it's true! There are times that I'd rather just hang out with Matt than do anything else. (Even if he's just doing homework on the couch! I like sitting next to him and reading my book or whatever it is I'm doing. Bless his heart, I have to try really hard to not talk his ear off so he can actually get things done. :p) He really is my best friend. If I'm having an off day, he'll give me a big hug and I just feel so much better! He's so great at keeping me balanced too. I tend to be a drama queen, and he's laid back so we balance each other out. ;) Figuring out this first year of marriage has been so rewarding. I love being a wife. :)

2- Seeing that tiny crib set up next to the rocking chair. :) And the tiny little sleepers folded next to the crib. And tiny little polo shirts with tiny little pockets. And tiny little blankets. And realizing that we're going to have a cute tiny little person soon to fill all of those things. :) I love to sit and daydream about it... which might be cheesy but I'm sure it's normal and every pregnant woman does it at one point or another. Right? :p

3- Having an institute class again. I signed up kind of last minute, and decided to take The atonement, repentance and forgiveness from my Uncle Lloyd. (Which has been so fun to see the teaching side of him. He does such a great job reaching out to the students and making it possible for us to have fun but also to invite the spirit. It's such a great class!) I've always loved learning about the atonement, but I've especially loved being back in a class this time around. After I got married it seems like being spiritual got ten times harder. I don't know if it's just because I was balancing more in my schedule and wanting to spend all my spare time with Matt so I slacked on my study habits, or if it was because I wasn't in institute classes that helped me study, or if I just... got less spiritual? I don't know. It was really frustrating to me though, because I felt like I was 'on top of my game', so to speak, right before I got married. And then I felt like I went backwards. Being able to feel like I'm progressing again and feel like I'm really being spiritually recharged throughout the week makes me so happy! I missed feeling that 'fire'. :) I hope I can figure out a way to still do something like this after baby Jaden comes. 

4- Maybe this sounds stereotypical pregnant girl, but lately sitting down to a good hot meal has made me very  happy. :p Especially if I've gotten off my bum and made the hot meal. I feel accomplished and like I'm doing something to help out if I can at least do that much. Brain food for Matt, right? Sadly, I'm a back to being a tired lazy pregnant girl so I haven't been very good at that. 

5- Sunshine! Even if I don't get to be outside on sunny days, it still makes me happy to see it through my windows while I sit at my desk. :) Sunny days look happy. Don't they? And there's something wonderful about feeling it on your skin when you're driving in your car, or when you can stand on the warm floor where the sunshine is coming through your windows. It's like a hug from the world. :p

#4 out of 30

List 10 things that you would tell your 16 year old self.

.... Only 10? Because I'm pretty sure I could give 16 year old Shannon at least a 4 hour lecture. ;) And she would have needed it. 

Teenagers. (insert eye roll)

I'll try to limit this for your sakes... I already know what I'd chew myself out for. :p

1- Boys. Are. Not. Worth. It. Got it? The drama and the feeling bad about yourself if one doesn't like you back, and the changing yourself to make someone like you stuff is garbage. Boys are just boys. 

2- That being said, date lots! Don't tie yourself down. Yeah, you'll have your favorites, but it's much more fun if you go on lots of dates with lots of people! 20 year old Shannon can attest to that. Just trust her. Plus you'll ruin fewer friendships and save yourself embarrassment when you run into people after high school.

3- Be nice to your sisters. Yup, they're sisters and yup you guys drive each other nutsy sometimes, but you'll be good friends later I promise. So be nice so you don't have to feel bad that their memories of you are few and far between. 

4- See yourself for who you are! You're not a total loser, and you can totally make friends. No those groups of girls that you'd like to hang out with aren't too popular for you. They probably even like you more than you think. And those nice boys that you don't dare ask to dances? Just ask them. They're nice boys, and you would have had fun!

5- Please stop driving like a maniac. Mom and dad's insurance hates it. And you're going to get after your husband for driving just like you drove then. Thou hypocrite. ;)

6- Please take better care of yourself. I know you're not overweight or anything, but healthy habits are not your forte in the future. And I'm sure being pregnant would be a little easier if you were a healthy individual... so. Ya know. Help a sister out.

7- Ya know how much you love dad's and Brother Jones' seminary classes? Enjoy them. Because institute is still awesome later in life, but when you're the only married pregnant student it's definitely a different experience. Take advantage and soak it up now! It'll help you later on, I promise.

8- Remember how you cut your hair and hated it? In the future when it's late at night and your roommates tell you it was so cute short and you should cut it again... please take a day or two to pray and ponder before you just chop it all off again. You hate it again the second time. Just stick with mediumish long hair. It works better.

9- When you think you know everything, and that mom and dad are just being obnoxious? Knock it off and listen to them. They actually know things and if you do what they're suggesting it makes life much easier for you. They're not telling you stuff just to make you miserable, they want to help you skip over the unnecessary frustrations.

10- Be nice to yourself. You're a silly teenager and you make silly decisions sometimes, and you think some situations are life and death when they're really not. You're doing better than you give yourself credit for. So give yourself a break, smile and just like yourself. Ok? Great.