1. Find or buy a container (Tupperware, mason jar, small box, etc.)
2. Print off the following questions, cut them into individual slips and put them in the jar. Draw randomly.
3. Keep it next to your table for stimulating dinnertime conversation (also great to keep around for a party with friends or bring in the car for a long road trip!)Questions:(PS. these were not written by me, only copy and pasted from various sources.)
If you had $100 to spend freely, what would you buy?
If you could be any animal for a day, what would you be?
What was your favorite family vacation?
What do you think is the hardest thing about being a kid and about being a parent?
What special talent would you like to have?
Would you prefer to have many acquaintances or a few very close friends?
If you could go to the Olympics in any sport which would you choose and why?
If you were in charge of creating a new holiday, what would it be and how would people celebrate it?
Is it ever okay to lie?
What do children know more about than adults?
Should kids be forced to try new foods?
What do you most admire about your grandparents?
What would you like to learn how to cook?
Which character traits of your brother's or sister's would you like to have?
Would you rather be spanked or grounded?
Would you rather be a wealthy movie star or a poor scientist who cures cancer?
Have you done or said anything thoughtful today?
Who do you think has it easier: boys or girls?
What is the most important lesson you've learned?
When you open your eyes in the morning, what's the first thing you think about?
What class would you like to take in school that is not offered?
What is the hardest part of your day?
What is the earliest memory you have?
If you won the lottery, how would you spend your money?
If you could rename yourself, what new name would you choose?
How is your personality like your mother's? How is it like your father's?
If you were showing a visitor around your town, where would you take them?
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Are you more comfortable as a leader or a follower?
What would you like to be famous for?
Would you rather be a great musician, athlete, scientist, artist, politician or writer?
How was your grandparents childhood different from yours?
Which wild animal would you like to tame and keep as a pet?
What's your favorite summertime activity?
What Christmas tradition are you going to continue with your children?
Do you believe animals have emotions?
Which gift would you prefer, a toy you've wanted or a vacation with your family?
What the ultimate ice cream sundae topping?
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Would you go to school if it were your choice?
Would you stick by a friend if they became disfigured?
Is it okay to reveal a secret to protect someone?
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Who in your family do you most resemble?
What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
If you could master one musical instrument, what would you choose?
What is the best way to show someone you love them?
Which of your five senses would you least want to give up?
What's the best way to cure homesickness?
What questions would you ask your parents if they had to tell the truth?
What makes a good loser? Are you one?
What's your favorite story about an ancestor?
What new person would you like to have as a friend?
Which historical event would you like to attend?
Why do you think people say or do mean things?
What do you do when someone gives you a gift you already have?
If you have to live with another family for a year, which family would you choose?
Where would you choose to travel if money were no object?
What bedtime would you pick if you could choose?
Who has the power to shape your ideas and beliefs?
Would you rather be an only child or have ten siblings?
What are the most important qualities you look for in a friend? spouse?
Is it better for parents to stay together or separate if they are unhappy?
What difficult experience in your life has made you a stronger person?
Would you rather live for a week in the present or in the future?
What is the first thing you would do if you were President?
What makes something art?
Who is one of your heroes and why do they inspire you?
Which is more important: intelligence or common sense?
What object would you grab first if your house caught fire?
If you could paint your room any color, what would you choose?
What are the benefits of saving your money? and of spending it?
When are old things better than new things?
What would you like to change about the city you live in?
What would you like to be doing in ten years?
Have you ever wanted to quit? Did you? How did it make you feel?
What strengths do you bring to your family and do you feel they are appreciated?
What would be the best and worst thing about having a twin?
What personality trait has gotten you in the most trouble?
How did your parents meet and fall in love?
Would you rather see a movie, parade or magic show?
What would your life be like if you had all your wishes granted?
What makes you feel better when you’re sick?
If you wanted to earn $50.00 how would you like to earn the money?
What’s your favorite board game?
What fear would you like to conquer?
What’s one thing you’ve done that you’d like to erase?
In order of importance, how would you rank happiness, money, freedom, and love?
Would you travel into space if you could?
Will you discipline your children in the same way you are disciplined?
How will you know when you’re “grown-up”?
Which household chores do you like to do and which do you try to avoid?
Would you rather have a good but strict teacher or a less talented but fun one?
What are the positives and negatives of being competitive?
Is space exploration important?
Where would you go if you were going to run away from home?
Would you rather fly or be invisible?
What’s the story behind your name?
If you had the time and resources what kind of volunteer work would you like to do?
Which famous athlete would you love to meet?
If you could have any view from your bedroom window what would it be?
What’s your favorite ride at an amusement park?
What do you most admire about your parents?
Which TV show would you pick to live inside for a week?
What one thing would you like to know about the future?
Would you rather have no rules to live by or the rules you have to live by now?
Would you choose to be the worst player on a winning team or the best player on a losing team?
If you were offered one million dollars could you get straight A’s next year?
Would you rather have Marry Poppins or Willy Wonka as a babysitter?
What’s the best and worst thing about your position in the family birth order?
What would be the positives and negatives of having a new baby in your family?
When you receive two invitations at the same time how do you decide which one to accept?
What would you most like to do for someone else if you had the money and time?
What would you like to change about your school?
How are you different from everyone else?
What one goal do you hope to accomplish this year?
If you lived during the Gold Rush would you have journeyed West to strike it rich?
What would be on the menu for your ultimate birthday dinner?
Would you give up junk food to live 10 years longer?
How is your family different from other families and does it bother you?
Can you tell if someone is telling the truth of lying and if so how?
What do you like best and least about your life?
How does a person become courageous?
In what language would you like to be fluent?
What’s your definition of integrity? and do you have it?
Have you ever revealed a friend’s secret and they found out?
What would you do for fun if you had to give up tv and electronic games?
Who do you think is the most important person alive today?
Have you ever stuck up for someone when they needed an ally?
If you could, would you rather live in a boat or a tree house?
What three things would you like to change in the world?
Who do you sorely miss?
What’s the nicest thing you’ve ever done for someone?
Have you ever stood up for something you thought was right?
Would you rather be smarter, more athletic, or better-looking?
What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
What do children know more about than adults?
Would you rather hang out with older or younger kids?
Which school subjects do you think will be useful and which will be useless?
What nickname would you like?
Is it harder for you to eat healthy or get exercise?
What would you most like to ask God?
What family or school rule would you most like to change?
How did your family decide to settle in your hometown?
When you’re having a bad day, what do you do to feel better?
What skill would you like to have someday?
Which of your ancestors would you most like to meet?
What are the most important rights every person should have?
If you could be a superhero which special power would you choose to have?
What do you like to do most on the computer?
Would you rather be a dolphin, lion, eagle or horse?
What would be a really good flavor for toothpaste?
If you could stay up all night what would you like to do?
What’s your favorite joke?
If you could dress your mom in an outfit you think she’d look best in what would it be?
What do you think parents have forgotten about being a kid?
Would you rather learn how to ski, fish or sail?
What’s your favorite outfit?
Are you afraid of anything?
What was your favorite Halloween costume?
On a scale of 1-10 how strict are your parents?
What are your two favorite movies?
What would you do if you were invisible for a day?
What’s the secret to being happy?
Who’s the funniest person you know?
What do you love most about yourself?
What’s your favorite breakfast?
If you could design your own swimming pool what would it look like?
If you could be one character from a movie which one would you choose?
What’s your favorite Disney character?
What was your favorite bedtime story when you were younger?
What would you choose to come out of the school drinking fountain instead of water?
What’s your most prized possession?
Would you rather travel into space, see the super bowl, or be the president for one day?
What’s under your bed right now?
What’s your favorite kind of candy?
If you could invite one person to have dinner with your family who would you choose?
What were you like as a baby?
What would you love to invent?
not this cute anymore!
Simon's present from Santa was too big to pack in the car, so he opened it when we arrived home. He is mega jazzed about his bike! Every time we go out to walk the dog, he wants someone to push him on his new wheels... and usually there is someone around who will.
Under this picture, Danny wrote "The kid who wrote this is probably the coolest ever." Yes, he is. He's very literal, too.
The boys helped him blow out the candles and when we turned the lights back on, I was afraid the smoke alarm would ring and wake the baby-- and freak out our puppy. 34 candles looks like a miniature forest fire.
Dad cut the cake and I took a picture of Scar Face (aka Luke) who split his forehead on the trampoline last night.
Maybe we are terrible parents for butterflying the awful cut instead of taking him in to get stitches, but I think he's going to turn out just fine. I feel a little sad that his forehead will be forever changed, but I think he will sport the scar nicely. His face is handsome enough.
While eating cake and vanilla ice cream, Aaron told me he came up with a New Year's resolution for himself, but I would never guess it. I tried listing the most outrageous things I could possibly think of, but I never came close. He said he wants to start his own blog in 2011. I practically spit my cake out. I told him he would never actually do it, and he said that reverse psychology won't work on him, which made me laugh even harder. I would be absolutely thrilled if he started some kind of online journal for himself, but I am slightly worried he's having a mid-life crisis.
I think 34 is a handsome age. He's exactly the same as he was when he was 24, except now he has a few more gray hairs. He's still funny and kind and easy-going. He's also organized and clean and always on time. He does calf-raises in the shower, eats cold cereal every morning and sometimes gives driving lessons to under-aged children.
I know this is the worst picture ever (thanks to my husband and his phone) but I thought I would share anyway.. This is my parents and their ten children. We were all so happy to be together. We were all in the sealing room for Cindy's wedding, and all together to celebrate Christmas. Each of us married spouses that compliment us well and make our family even that much better. There are now 22 adults in our family and 33 grandchildren + one on the way. Kevin and Jen (who were married last August) just announced they're expecting. They came back to Vegas with us for a few days, so we're still partying like it's 1999.
The boys got new pj's, robes and slippers. They opened up a few Lego sets and then Grandpa brought in the last present wrapped in a blanket and a big bag..
My boys have been asking for a dog for way too long... and 2010 is the year she joins our family. Last night before we fell asleep, Luke said, "What if we get a dog?" I asked him this morning if he knew and he said, "NO! I didn't ever think we would really get one!"
Except when he gets in trouble for hitting her..
Merry Christmas! God bless us, every one!
Now that I am a mom, and I understand how hard it is emotionally, financially, physically to take care of children, I get a bit overwhelmed just thinking about my parents and the sacrifices they made for each of us. Our stockings were never stuffed.. In fact, I feel a little guilty "spoiling" my kids with presents in their stockings, when I think about the orange and a few chocolates I received in mine. But it proves to me that it's not important what you get as a child, it only matters how you feel. I felt so much love from my parents and siblings... and that is a gift I will carry with me for always and open up on lonely January afternoons when I am missing my family.
The weather ruined everything. It was wet snow, which is the worst, especially for little ones who spend the majority of their time on their hineys. how do you spell hiney, btw?
Lilly's dad was supposed to meet us at the slopes (so each adult could teach one child) but the weather was so bad that he ended up totaling his car on the way up the mountain. Cars were literally sliding everywhere... and our van barely made it home. Anyway, I guess we made memories, even if they weren't the kind I wanted to...
The kids did well, considering the heavy snow (and how miserably cold/wet we were). To my great surprise on the trek back to the car, I asked the kids how much fun they had and without hesitation they all said "TEN out of ten!" Which means we will be going back soon.
On Christmas Day, a few of my siblings hit the slopes and Aaron and I thought about going, but decided it wasn't Christmas-like to leave our new puppy and our four kids with someone else to watch. It's unfortunate that we were able to spend more time on our skis this trip. Better luck next time...
I woke up to these two playing outside my door. I had my cell phone nearby and snapped a couple of pictures. Simon has become quite the apprentice to his big brother and luckily (this time) they were playing with something that was made for little boys to play with (and not peanut butter, powdered sugar, shampoo or an entire box of tampons...) It's amazing how THRILLED you can be to find puzzle pieces spread all over the floor! 
If these pictures were a video, you would hear Zack's cute voice say, "YES! That IS the letter Y, Sy-Guy! You are getting so smart! Do you love the color blue? I do!"
The kid in back of us (smiling for the shot) is named Brigham. He brought all of his non-mormon friends and was trying to tell them about the church, but they weren't having it. One of the girls said, "So if you meet a supermodel who wants your bod, and she has a billion dollars and her dad is Elvis, you won't marry her if she's not Mormon?" Brigham calmly replied, "I would shake her hand and say, "It was nice knowing you." He was a cutie.
I thought I would be funny and add pictures of our Christmas tree. We've been married ten years and we still use an old (small) tree given to us by Aaron's parents. Every year we say we'll get a real tree, but when Christmas rolls around, we're either too busy or too lazy to actually do it. And so the little tree goes up. I find it completely amazing that people have "themed" trees with new ornaments each year. I would love to have one set of nice ornaments that kind-of-somewhat match. But I am practical (white trash) and tell myself it's better this way because expensive tree decor will get broken. And because it's ugly already, I allow the kids to make (& hang) whatever they please. Eventually I will have a nice looking color-coordinated wonderfully-smelling tree. For now, these ornaments make us happy.
To go along with the "the best things are homemade" theme, I thought I would post pictures of our favorite Christmas presents. Ben is the king of homemade gifts and started making toiletpaper roll "statues" in 2007.. I can't even count the number of statues he's made (grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, snowmen, Santa, etc.) but Aaron and I were the first. We've had them on our nightstands for a couple of years, but when Simon joined the family, we had to display them out of reach.
They've definitely faded over the years, but we love them so. (daddy's statue is playing tennis, btw.)
Yesterday we put lights and garland on the banister. The string of lights were brand new! As soon as we were finished wrapping it, half of the lights stopped working... so the top of the stairs (where no one sees anyway) is the prettiest part. I should take them down and back to the store, but who has time for that?
You might be a redneck if only half of your banister is lit up (and you leave it that way). You might be a redneck if your boys never comb their hair.
We have FINALLY completed two ginormous puzzles. Both are 1000 pieces. I can now bear witness that not all 1000 piece puzzles are the same. The first one took us a little over a day to complete. The second one was an entire week. It was a doozy. When we finished we celebrated with an hour long dance party. Our necks had major crinks and our butts were sore for sitting for days on end, but we shook it off and felt relieved to have them done!! Have you ever worked on a puzzle so long that you fit pieces together when you close your eyes at night? I have.
We got pedis (love my sparkly red toes!), went to the movies, ate yummy food and stayed up way past our bedtime crying and laughing. Karlin and I knew we shouldn't sleep in the same bed because we'd never go to sleep. The only reason why we eventually did is because we made a deal: "The next person who talks owes the other $20." We closed our sleepy eyes around 5 AM.
I wasn't able to hang out ALL WEEKEND because I had to work at my full-time job (motherhood). Speaking of which, I must get off the computer. My fifteen minute bathroom break is up.
This is what I got today. Obviously no one was taking me seriously... oh well. this is what life looks like today. messy hair and silly faces.
So much has changed in a year. Simon fits in the pajamas that were Zack's last year (size 4-5T). Life with a toddler is crazy. This morning while I was washing dishes after french toast, Simon opened the pantry, took out a quart of olive oil, poured in on the tile and started ice skating around in his footsie pjs. I stopped him just as he opened up a jar of peanut butter (which would have made the clean up much worse.) He can now open the fridge and freezer as well as our shower door. A few times, he's surprised Daddy while in the shower-- and got really wet himself! He's a lot of fun, alright, but he's always into something. I am having all sorts of deja vu from a few years ago.
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