A Great December Birthday

I celebrated a fabulous 35^th birthday so I decided to follow the example of some of my cool friends and write 35 things about me. I was going to post it on my birthday, but that didn’t happen since we were traveling that day.

1. I shower everyday, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I bet there hasn’t been 10 days I haven’t showered since I was 12 years old, and that includes girls camp. (If you shower everyday, you wouldn’t think that was abnormal, but I know lots of people who don’t shower everyday.)

2. I do my hair and my 4 daughters’ hair every morning. I follow in my Mom’s footsteps on this one. She had 6 daughters and she did our hair everyday.

3. Austin says there are 3 signs that I have been in the kitchen: The cupboard doors are all open. The kitchen is a mess. Sugar was a main ingredient.

4. My cleaning philosophy: clean when the mood hits

5. My cleaning weakness: clutter

6. One of the things that goes on inside my mind: copy editor. Whenever I read anything (emails, signs, ads, etc) my mind take notes of spelling or grammar errors

7. The things I think about most often: my list of things to do and money (how much we have, when more is coming, our upcoming expenses, needs and wants)

8. My travel bucket list: New York and Disneyland (I have already been to both places but want to take my family again)

9. My non-travel bucket list: sing in a choir for General Conference

10. I am a people watcher. It is my personality to learn people’s names, learn where they live, etc.

11. Favorite new singers: Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Celine Dion

12. Favorite old singers: Carpenters, Air Supply, Chicago

13. Dream calling: Relief Society Teacher

14. Callings I have Had: Activity Days leader, Enrichment Leader, Primary Counselor, Activities Committee Chairman, Relief Society teacher, Primary President, Young Women’s Counselor, Primary teacher

15. Biggest complex: Having a birthday right before Christmas – although it has significantly improved in the last 4 years

16. I really like playing in water in this order 1 – rivers, 2 –swimming pools, 3 – lakes and then the ocean but it’s not really in my ranking because I am not near an ocean every year

17. My role in events or parties: planner/organizer (Family Reunions, Nibley Heritage Days chairman, head room mom, etc)

18. Jobs I have had (besides Mom, of course): runner at a lawyer’s office, intern at the INEL, Motel 6 desk clerk (definitely a highlight of my life), receptionist at USU Catering , Office Assistant at USU Board of Trustees office and the USU Research Office, kindergarten aide, Team Roping announcer and then bookkeeper

19. My favorite quote: If elephants are on sale 2 for a quarter, only buy them if you need 2 elephants and if you have a quarter

20. Schools I attended: Hillview Elementary, Ammon Elementary, South Bonneville Junior High, Bonneville High School, Hillcrest High School, Utah State University

21. I have been to 26 states, mostly with my quality parents who took our family on lots of road trips

22. You wouldn't want me on your team if you were playing "Name that movie, song, singer, actor, etc" I just don't pay attention to those kinds of things.

23. My best talent: making chocolate chip cookies. I make them at least once a week. I used to only make a half batch so we/I wouldn't eat too many and so they didn't go bad before we ate them. Now I usually make a whole batch so everyone can have a treat for their lunches. I have taken cookies to display for talent shows. My cookies were even worth $500 once when we were bargaining on a buying a new truck and the dealer guy said, do you make good chocolate chip cookies. I said oh yes. And so he finally agreed on the price which saved us $500. I took him a batch of chocolate chip cookies the next day.

24. Technology I wouldn't want to live without: high-speed internet (We have experienced living without a phone, a cell phone and tv since moving to Canada, but the internet we didn't want to live without)

25. Although I haven't read the 5 Love Languages, I think my love language is praise. I love a sincere compliment but can stew about criticism for a long time.

26. I am a 50% driver in our marriage. I drive 50% of the time on our trips. Whenever we go "somewhere" I usually drive there and Austin drives home. When we go on long trips I usually drive half the trip, with the exception of winter driving and when I had newborns.

27. Roles I have in my marriage: money manager, public relations, taking care of the vehicles

28. I am also Austin's personal secretary. I think my name should be in parentheses next to his on his Bachelor's degree and Master's degree. He would write out his assignments and I would type them editing as I went. Together we can write an awesome paper. He still has me edit things for his work or will call and ask how to spell a word.

29. I am the snack Mom. Wherever we go, I bring snacks. When we go on trips, I bring LOTS of snacks. I learned this trait from my mom. Just the other day Austin's entire family (23 people) were at the Agridome riding horses and my nephew came and found me and said, "Kaylynn, do you have any snacks? I am hungry." Of course I did. I had brought a bag of pretzels in case we needed a snack.

30. I have lived in 2 countries. Canada and United States. My favorite two things about moving to Canada are the great people and the beautiful place where we live (the mountains, the prairies, the windmills, the sunrises and sunsets). My two least favorite things are the weather and the shopping.

31. My favorite holiday is definitely Christmas. I love everything about it. I spend months thinking about gift ideas.

32. My favorite season is summer. I love being outside when it is warm. I love hanging out in nature. I love summer evenings.

33. I am 5'4" and my 12-year old daughter is the same height as me. She will definitely outgrow me.

34. I am the object of many of my family's jokes. I don't have a quick wit, but I love to laugh. One of my favorite things about Austin is his sense of humor. My best chance at humor is to pick up on inside jokes and bring them up again at funny times.

35. I really think my cup is half full, not half empty. I try to be positive, although I know I am not perfect. Sister Hinckley is my role model for many things, but this is one of them. I read her book when I feel half empty.

If you really read all 35 things about me, you are a true friend:)