Day 17

-someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why:

Hmmm....I have good days and bad like everyone else but I like being me. Perhaps trade places with my 18 year old self on graduation night and change a choice I made.

Day16

-Another Picture of Yourself

Day 15

- put your ipod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play:

I don't have an ipod...I have a Zune.

1. Sittin on the Dock of the Bay -Michael Bolton

2. Families Can Be Together Forever -LDS Hymn

3. Me Va, Me Va -Julio Iglesias

4. I Can't Go for That -Hall and Oates

5. You Don't Bring Me Flowers -Barbara Streisand

6. Endless Summer Nights -Richard Marx

7. Learning to Live Again -Garth Brooks

8. If Love is Out of the Question -Celine Dion

9. Hard Habit to Break -Chicago

10. Give Said the Little Stream -Brett Raymond

Day 14

- a picture of you and your family:

I need more current photos.

Day 12

- how you found out about blogger and why you have one:

Hmmm, I don't remember how I found out about blogger. I do know I have friends who wrote using blogger way before I got into it.

I used to be a fair writer but stopped. Life got in the way and my writing went by the wayside. I missed writing as an outlet and blogging seemed to be a fun way to get back into it.

Day 11

- another picture of you and your friends:

I need to spend more time with my friends...and bring a camera!

Day 10

- songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad:

Long ago, pre-marriage, pre-motherhood, I had music I listened to suit my mood. Now it's mainly music geared towards children and the radio on in the car.

Day 9

Something I'm proud of in the last few days....

Not yelling at the kids. Sometimes watching so many little ones can be a bit stressful. When I first started daycare I would give in and yell at them to 'knock it off' and such. Nothing too awful but I really hated myself for raising my voice. I think it's wrong and shouldn't be done and yet I would do it. Not yelling is a goal I have been working on for a while now and with time and practice, have been improving. I have also been reading a lot about 'good practices' for discipline and taking classes about child development particularly concerning the ages 18mos to 5 years. I know this increase of knowledge has helped a great deal. For nearly a month I have refrained from yelling at the daycare children. It's been pretty great. Sure they still get a bit crazy but I am handling it better...and if needed, I take a time out in another room for myself, take a few deep breaths and then go back to talk to them about their behavior. I've also noticed an increase of my tolerance and patience with them. The kids and I are liking the new me.

Day 8

Short Term Goals for this month and why:

Survive. Why, because life throws a lot of curve balls and I just gotta catch 'em and survive.

Day 7

Someone that has had a great impact on my life:

Joseph Smith Jr.

Day 6

My favorite superhero:

The first time I saw him- I was a young child and instantly fell in love....I still am. I miss him.

Day 5

A picture of somewhere I've been...

June 2010 we were able to travel to Las Vegas to attend my brother Eric's wedding. We got to stay at my cousin Margaret's house. This is a photo of My 'Aunt' Margaret's dining area. I loved staying at her place. She is awesome!

Day 4

A habit I wish I didn't have...

I am terrible with money. I wish I was better at saving my pennies; not such an impulsive shopper. I love to shop. I am torn within.

Day 3

Sadly, I rarely get together with all my friends and evenly more rarely have my photo taken with them. I am usually the one taking the pictures, not in them. These are kind of old.

Wedding photo of my best friend and I ;)

None of these photos are current (most are from my teen years) but I think they still count because I am still in touch with nearly everyone.

Day 2

Well, I am a procrastinator. The secret is out.

Day 2's challenge is the meaning behind my blog's name.

There's not much to it. Our surname is Strong and we are a family.

Hence, A Strong Family. It's a nice play on words.

Day 1

Photo taken 27 Feb 2011

15 interesting things about myself:

1. I'd rather eat cereal for dinner than cook something for a picky eater.

2. I love being on an airplane.

3. I've been to Mexico twice but never went sight seeing (went to visit family).

4. I chose not to finish college because I got sick of doing so much homework.

5. I love to be creative -sewing, making jewelry, knitting, crocheting, doing calligraphy...

6. I enjoy organizing other people's stuff. If I walk into disarray - the whole time I am there I am dying to pick up and organize. I am not disgusted by their messes, I just like organizing.

7. I hate cleaning the tub and the toilet (anywhere).

8. I had to start wearing glasses in the 6th grade.

9. I think I am boring and am baffled when others think I am not.

10. I never took a class but I enjoy taking photographs.

11. I don't like to scrapbook.

12. I recently lost my engagement ring.

13. My most favorite thing to do is be a mother.

14. I hate to sweat.

15. Redwoods are my favorite trees.

I took a survey and to find out what my friends thought was interesting about me and here's what some of them said:

Dawn-my love of baking baffles her

Josh and Glenda-no matter where a camera is, if it's taking a picture, I know where to look

Melissa-my never ending patience and generosity

Shar-how well I sew

Thanks for sharing everyone. Feel free to add nice things to the list. I am a bit of a narcissist so I love to hear about me.

30 Days of Blog Challenges

day 1- recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
day 2- the meaning behind your blog name
day 3- a picture of you and your friends
day 4- a habit that you wish you didn’t have
day 5- a picture of somewhere you've been to
day 6- favorite super hero and why
day 7- a picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
day 8- short term goals for this month and why
day 9- something you're proud of in the past few days
day 10- songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad
day 11- another picture of you and your friends
day 12- how you found out about blogger and why you have one
day 13- a letter to someone who has hurt you recently
day 14- a picture of you and your family
day 15- put your ipod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play
day 16- another picture of yourself
day 17- someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
day 18- plans/dreams/goals you have
day 19- nicknames you have and why you have them
day 20- someone you see yourself marrying or being with in the future
day 21- a picture of something that makes you happy
day 22- what makes you different from everyone else
day 23- something you crave for a lot
day 24- a letter to your parents
day 25- what I would find in your bag
day 26- what do you think about your friends
day 27- why are you doing this 30 day challenge
day 28- a picture of you from last year and now, how have you changed since then?
day 29- in this past month, what have you learned
day 30- your favorite song