Ten years ago!?!

1. Ten years ago: 1997...We had just celebrated our 2nd anniversary a month ago. We were finally in a new apartment on 143 E 1100 S in Orem after coming home from visiting Michigan in the summer. Jace was 1 year old. Ben had also graduated from BYU that spring and had interned and was hired at Mad Mac in Orem as their Advertising guy. He contracted for $20,000 a year/no benefits. Boy, we thought we were rich and there would be no reason to leave our little apartment for several years! Hmmmm! I was still tending Addison Bowers...so it really was like having twins half the day. I remember thinking REAL life was starting now that Ben had graduated!

2. Five years ago: 2002...Ben was hired by Marketsource in 1999 and now needed a home office and closer proximity to the airport we thought, so we bought and had been living for 3 years in our house in Taylorsville. I was busting with pregnancy with Emma due in 6 weeks. Tanner would be turning 4 tomorrow...so four kids ages 6 and under! Ben became a manager and then I remember thinking REAL life was starting now that we had a house we thought we would probably pay off early and be in forever, freshly purchased term life insurance, a cute little family with 2 boys and 2 girls...almost, and a stable enjoyable income!

3. One year ago: 2006...We had just moved from our Taylorsville house down to Orem...thinking that close proximity to the airport wasn't quite as big a deal as being able to enjoy closer proximity to our family. We were full blown into our kitchen remodel. The kids were adjusting to life at a new school and enjoying the neighborhood. I was LOVING fall here in Utah county...so many trees! And thinking REAL life is starting...maybe we will be in this house forever...maybe we will be remodeling forever!!! Probably.

4.Yesterday: Ben is in a resort in Orlando visiting Sea World...with work! It was the kids picture day today so we were up at 8:00 and took quick "school pictures" so they could be out the door to walk to school @ 8:45. Then our morning routine began. I turned on Webkinz for Emma while I watch the Today Show while doing Pilates (picture in picture). Then after read my scriptures online while I drink my water. Then check accounts, email, blogs etc. Then clean the breakfast dishes. By now Emma is playing with Halle here or there. Then I went upstairs to start laundry. I got ambitious and sorted the girls closet. Sorted piles to give away, throw away and put away summer clothes and hung up what was left. Then did more laundry and vacuumed all of the upstairs. Lunch time was left over stew...mmm fall food! After lunch Ben needed me to ship out some boxes for him to Palm...it was quite the sight me and Emma sliding 35lb boxes out his office, down the hallway, sliding down the stairs and over to the front door. Then we had to go to Costco to get Rice Krispie treats. (Tanner picked them for his birthday treat to take to school today.) Made happy birthday labels to stick on his treats. Called fedex for pickup. More laundry. Kids got home at 4pm. Made their snack. Watched Oprah. Refereed children's turns on Webkinz. Dinner at 5:30. Homework at 6. Enjoyed not having to go anywhere at 7 tonight. Watched Deal or No Deal and Property Ladder with the kids. 8pm Snack time. Ben called from Florida. "10 Minute Tidy" with the kids in the toy room. Read "The Popcorn Shop" with the girls...twice. Lights out for the kids. Checked retirement funds. Me to bed @ 10pm. Tomorrow Ben gets home!!!

5. 5 snacks I enjoy: Caramel Delight Dreyers Slow Churned ice cream, cherry tomatoes from 'the garden', peanut butter/reeses pieces cookies (ate too many of those this week!), rice krispie treats, licorice.

6. Five things I would do with $1 million: Pay for a complete remodel of our house, buy a beach house in Oregon, get new vehicles, go to London and surrounding areas and take a train tour of Western Canada, invest the rest.

7. 5 places I would love to run off to: anywhere I don't have to cook, clean, where it is warm and all of my family is there.

8. 5 favorite TV shows: Most HGTV stuff, Property Ladder/Flip that house, the Bachelor (teehee), Oprah-when I can, The Today Show.

9. 5 things I hate doing: Dishes, laundry, toilets, showers, finding dog poop on my lawn!

10. 5 biggest joys: Ben, Jace, Tanner, Lauren & Emma. (Most days :)

11. People tagged: Ditto what Reecy said: "anyone who reads this"