I've had 95% of this post done for about a month and a half but have been hesitant to publish it. Why, I'm not really sure. Maybe it's the voice of doubt or insecurity that announces in my ear that I'm definitely not interesting enough for people to read a lengthy entry about nothing but simple me. Maybe I have been worried that what I've written will come across the wrong way. Maybe, as full-time mom, I fear that I've snuggled into my comfy cozy world and that I'm a tad dull and blase' in the eyes of the world and maybe even in some of your eyes. I can't share good news of a promotion I received, a business I own, or the paychecks that allow for a lavish lifestyle. The only work title I can boast is that of Mom. That's good enough for me. I've made a career out of seeing how efficiently I can manage a day with 6 people having different needs and agendas. I stand up to the challenge of seeing how our lives can run like a well oiled machine with me organizing, planning, stretching a dollar, teaching, enjoying and loving my family. Being home has not come easily to me. I've been home full-time for 9+ years but it took me the first 5 years to finally hit my stride. I'm a slow learner but I think I've got the hang of it. I'm not a perfect mom. In fact, sometimes I think I've got a long, long ways to go. I just remind myself that I'm climbing my own ladder of success and that I can look down anytime and see how far I've come. So, dull and blase' are OK with me. I know where I stand. Here are 101 things about
Kristen Dawn Mackintosh Gregson
101. I'm usually long winded. In my writing, during a phone conversation, etc... I was dubbed, "Motor Mouth" as a little girl.
100. I graduated from BYU with a degree in Special Ed. I taught school for 4 years.
99. I hate cantaloupe. Really hate it.
98. I sometimes dream that my teeth are loose or falling out. Interpretation: I'm under stress.
97. I love to watch Rob and Big on MTV.
96. My first concert was OMD on my 16th birthday. I went with JoLynn Porter.
95. I double pierced my own ears using a safety pin when I was in high school. My mom was SO mad.
94. I've never had a speeding ticket.
93. Biggest fear: something tragic happening to one of my kids.
92. I've eaten Black Forest cake in THE Black Forest in Germany.
91. I openly admit to being a food snob. I like to cook and eat food that tastes good. I don't like a lot of your popular chain restaurants because, frankly, I think their food stinks. I'd love to be a food critic.
90. I've never consumed any alcohol or smoked a cigarette.
89. In college, I had a major crush on Axl Rose from Guns and Roses. Jeff couldn't figure that one out.
88. I would love to be a REALLY good hip hop dancer. I'd love to be in the Jabbawockeez crew.
87. I sometimes have salty language and my kids call me on it.
86. I asked Jeff out on our first date. Yep, right there in the Harold B. Lee Library on BYU campus.
85. I love Mozart. He has always been my favorite composer.
84. In 8th grade, I fell/jumped off a runaway horse and broke my arm.
83. The summer after my senior year of high school, I was a Student Ambassador and traveled in Europe for a month. We started in Moscow where I saw Lenin's body in Red Square. He's been dead since 1924 so, needless to say, gravity had taken it's toll and he was rather flat and wide. That year the Berlin Wall had finally come down and I was able to chip off a chunk and bring it home. Remember, "The world is a book. Those who do not travel read only a page." St. Augustine
82. My favorite kind of fish is Swedish Fish. :)
81. I did clogging as a kid. I even clogged at the Calgary Stampede with the Steele Family Cloggers. Yee-ha!
80. I was a Hannah Holbrook Hooter (my elementary school).
79. My favorite physical trait is my hair. The only part of my body that I am glad is thick and full.
78. Scariest moment: in college some friends and I were watching The Exorcist because there was so much buzz about how creepy it was. We didn't get very far into it when we realized it wasn't the kind of show we should be watching (duh!?). We decided to turn it off. We shut off the VCR and TV and a voice, that we all clearly heard, told us to turn it back on. Um, can you say pee your pants?
77. I love to mow the lawn.
76. I hung my bra from the large family sculpture on BYU campus. I hung it from the dad's hand and left it there. Awful, awful, awful! (plus, bras are expensive)
75. I love anything mint.
74. I was a cheerleader in jr. high. Go BJH!
73. I once got a butterscotch candy lodged in my throat. It was lodged but I could still breath.
72. After visiting the Kennedy Space Center, I was determined to be a Space Specialist (astronaut). I KNEW I would orbit around the earth someday. Didn't realize there was so much math involved.
71. I've been pooped on by seagulls 3 different times. 2x I was wearing a tank top. Big bird, big poop.
70. I was in the Marriott Center when Cody Judy threatened Pres. Hunter with a fake bomb.
69. I wish I was more patient, dang it!
68. I'd love to have a REALLY good camera and take fabulous pictures.
67. I think houses have personalities. While I want a bigger home, I want one that is warm and cozy on the inside AND the outside. A warm and cozy house I love: the Boyer's home in Springville.
66. One regret: I wish I went on an LDS mission
65. I was born in Arcadia, California. We moved to Utah when I was in 3rd grade.
64. I've been to "the land down under" and have "eaten a Vegemite sandwich". (that's Australia for those of you who don't listen to Men at Work)
63. My first kiss was with Dave Barlow in Dracula's Castle at Lagoon. I was 13.
62. I really wanted my 4th child to be a girl. Even on the day of delivery, I was hoping the ultrasounds were possibly wrong and envisioning the sheer excitement we would all have if they announced, "It's a GIRL". The minute Shaw was born I was instantly in love and wouldn't trade him for a dozen girls. The love I have for that beautiful baby boy is beyond words.
61. My idea of a perfect lunch date would be: Oprah Winfrey, Paula Dean, Brad Pitt, and Jack Black. Why? Oprah would provide good conversation, Paula would provide good food, Brad would just be good to look at, and Jack would be the comic relief (and make me feel completely mentally healthy because he's nuts).
60. I love the smell of Pine-Sol.
59. My favorite holidays are Christmas and Halloween.
58. I adore Gerber daisies.
57. I hate to make crafts. If something takes longer than 2 hours, I can't stand it. Super Saturdays are torture.
56. I'd love to go to culinary school and become a chef.
55. My dream home would be nestled in a grove of trees. I would have French doors in my bedroom leading out to my own secret garden complete with a comfy overstuffed chair perfect for snuggling up with a light blanket and reading. Ideal location? In Vermont or Connecticut.
54. I do canning. This season we did spaghetti/pizza sauce, salsa, peaches, and peach jam. I've got 3 large boxes of grapes sitting on my front porch waiting to be turned into grape juice. Maybe tomorrow...
53. When I was 3, I told my mom that I was glad that I came to her family because they almost sent me to a different one.
52. I'm a spender and Jeff tries to be a saver.
51. I am a Disneyland and Disney World fanatic. I will gladly be your tour guide.
50. Since I was a little girl, I've had the habit of playing and twisting my hair when I am concentrating, daydreaming, or just relaxing.
49. I must be a narcissist to think that people would want to read 101 things about ME.
48. I'm 36 and still afraid of the dark.
47. I love to write. Someday I would love to write a children's book. Know any good illustrators?
46. In my ward, I've been called the "nice" Martha Stewart. Wish I had her cash.
45. I've never put my real weight on my driver's license. Not ever.
44. I love ribbon. All kinds. I would love to have a ribbon room with pretty jars full of ribbon, buttons, and lots of girly things that I could just look at.
43. Jeffrey Jay Gregson is my best friend. He loves me in spite of myself.
42. I don't really like vegetables. I eat them for my kids sake and even cook things like squash for the nutritional benefit. It's not always easy to encourage them to eat the squishy orange stuff when you yourself want to gag.
41. I broke my nose our first year of marriage. Jeff was pulling me on a tube behind a ski boat. I hit a big wave, flew out of the tube on my back, and my knee hit my face. So fun to return to BYU with 2 black eyes. Everyone eyed Jeff like he was a wife beater.
40. I ate dirt as a kid. I still remember the glorious taste. Even now, the smell of Soil Pep makes my mouth water. I must be missing some vitally important minerals.
39. I love barns.
38. This is gross, but I love to pop zits. Preferably family members' zits, but hey, if you're in need...
37. I could make a fortune if I could figure out how to bottle and sell my great-aunt's pancake syrup recipe. It is liquid gold.
36. I love all types of music. Everything from classical to Red Hot Chili Peppers, Allison Krauss to Gwen Stefani. I like Missy Elliott, U2, Pink, and reggae. I especially like 80's music. I love the fact that Kennedy and I have identical songs downloaded to our iPods and sing at the top of our lungs together when we're driving in the car. It does my heart good.
35. Honesty (even when it hurts) and communication (even when it's unpleasant) are a must.
34. Before we were married, Jeff and I hosted a Halloween party. He and I dressed up as a priest and a "pregnant" nun. We were on campus doing a scavenger hunt, someone saw us and was offended by our appearance, and wrote a complaint in the Daily Universe newspaper. Sheeesh!
33. I took piano lessons for 12 years.
32. I love playing board and card games.
31. My role model is my sister-in-law, Carene. She is the most Christ-like person I know.
30. I love to read. Book suggestions are always welcome.
29. Some favorite movies: Gone with the Wind, Pride and Prejudice, Titanic, Braveheart, Somewhere in Time
28. I still have my Holly Hobbie metal lunch box from elementary school.
27. Blogging is an outlet for me.
26. I'd love to have 5 kids. Jeff says we're done...we're too old. You never know...
25. I heart Gardner Village.
24. I want to learn to play the bagpipes and the banjo.
23. Pet peeves: laziness and people who act entitled
22. I'd rather be in labor than go to the dentist.
21. I HATE snakes.
20. I wish I was more fashionable. I know what I like when I see someone wearing it, but to walk into a store and put something together? Ugh! Clothes shopping stresses me out.
19. I am a perfectionist and have an attention for details. Sometimes it drives me (and Jeff) crazy.
18. I would love to be part of a really good human interest story.
17. I have such a thirst for learning and knowledge as I get older. I'd love to retake my college humanities classes.
16. I was one of those millions of crazy females who let themselves be absorbed into Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. Yes, I had an emotional affair with a fictitious vampire character. I have closed that chapter of my life (well, I'll close it after I see the movie) and have moved on. However, I would still like to feel Edward's pecs.
15. I love living in a place where I can experience all 4 seasons as they were meant to be experienced.
14. I love the mystique of musty castles and cathedrals in Europe.
13. I am a roller coaster/thrill ride enthusiast. The faster, bigger, scarier, more intense... the better.
12. I like to spoon.
11. To me. traditions are a necessity of life. It gives the kids a sense of security, something for our family to look forward to, and something we can call our own. Dad's Christmas shave, 1st day of school surprises on the kids' beds, homemade pizza and rootbeer on Halloween, the kids doing Christmas shopping at All-a-Dollar, Echo Lake with the Gregsons, Disneyland trips, and so many others. Makes memories and ties us together. My kids remember the tiniest details and I love when conversations turn to "Remember when...." dialogues.
10. I love a REALLY good belly laugh. We always have these when Brent Gregson is in town.
9. To me, there's nothing more relaxing than lying on a sandy beach and listening to the sound of the ocean.
8. I value Jeff's opinion and advise more than any other person's.
7. I've never been one to give up easily. Some call it stubbornness, I call it determination.
6. A friend best summed up how I feel when she wrote, " My life is like treading water in a sea of guilt. Someone throw me a life preserver already!" Amen to that.
5. On one of our crazier dates, Jeff and I (along with my brother and my roommate who were doubling with us) decided that we really wanted to see what was in the creepy yet beautiful old BrighamYoung Academy. We jumped the fence and found a broken window to look through. Little did we know there were silent alarms. The police came, circled the block with search lights and I panicked. I was not a rebellious teenager and not used to getting into trouble so this was new to me. We came out with our hands up, got fingerprinted, and later had to go to court. No kids, mommy does not have a record.
4. I'm at least 6 years behind on my scrapbooking. Yea for me! It makes me quite nauseated when I think about it actually. I have enough cutesy supplies to do 20 scrapbooks but not the time (nor the motivation) to do it. I have 6 years worth of digital pictures on my computer just waiting patiently for someone to go through them and correctly label and organize them. It makes me cringe. I'm such a slacker...
3. I hate laundry. I'd rather clean toilets.
2. At BYU. I completed my foreign language requirements by taking American Sign Language (ASL).
1. I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I cannot imagine raising kids in this world without the knowledge and guidance of the Gospel. I'm grateful for the Young Women program, primary, scouts, and ample opportunities that we have to learn and grow through church callings. I am full of gratitude that I have a worthy Priesthood holder in our home. I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father and elder Brother who love us and want us to be happy. I'm grateful for the atonement and our Savior's sacrifice for all of us and that Heavenly Father simply wants us to do our best. I'm trying.
6. Leave the movie pleasantly surprised and discuss all of our favorite scenes
9. Help Randee do some early Christmas shopping for Jeremy
12. Inhale Avocado Eggrolls
15. Drive home and get stuck on I-15 in Centerville for an hour
7. Buy Christmas ornaments for each of the kids
15. Laugh and hug my daughter and smile at the fact that she passed up an evening with friends to be with me
21. Check my watch - 11:45 p.m. - and decide we should probably head home
