15 things about us

Marshall and I thought we would put a list together about

15 facts about you

&

Something that stresses you out

Here is our list 

Brittany

1. I hate exercising

2. I love to sing to music in the car, but would rather not do it in public.

3. I can’t dance to save my life. Even as a child I couldn’t be in a dance class because I have no coordination.

4. I read cookbooks like novels over and over and over again just because.

5. I have to touch everything when I am shopping, like pillows, blankets, shirts.

6. I love getting my picture taken.

7. I sit in most chairs cross legged.

8. I hate shoe shopping but love shopping for food.

9. I was born in the wrong time. I love all things old and nostalgic (1800-1900) music and interests better suit the 40’s-60’s

10. I hate going places alone; I would rather have someone to go with just not a toddler.

11. I am afraid of the dark. I know it’s crazy.

12. I love having my own house so I can get the mail everyday. (it has my name on it)

13. I can recite “7 brides for seven brothers” I know every line and all the songs.

14. I have to sit on the outside of the bench because it makes me claustrophobic to sit inside.

15. I have to have clean hands. Dirty ones make me panicky.

Something that stresses me out is when I something goes wrong, or wasn’t planned and I have to figure out how I am going to deal with it in that second.

Marshall

1 - I love food

2 - I am bald (partially natural but completely by choice to avoid embarrassment)

3 - I enjoy sports

4 - I cried when "Old Yeller" got shot at the end

5 - I love having money but also enjoy spending it (these two don't mix)

6 - I love taking Libby for bike rides

7 - I like doing yard work until about June, then it gets hot and the weeds just don't stop

8 - My favorite TV show is Modern Family

9 - I dream of one day having a nice truck and new camp trailer and 4 wheelers

10 - I am the proud owner and wearer of a Snuggie

11 - When I got in trouble as a kid I would tell my parents that "Harry" did it (from Harry and the Hendersons)

12 - I still bite my nails

13 - I am left handed when writing and eating, but throw and play sports right handed

14 - I am a morning person

15 - I can't stand 80's music



Something that stresses me out...... Having a project or a repair on my house that I don't know how to do.

Year Four

I am finding that my memory isn’t all that I thought it was. Life seems to be all meshed together and I can remember what happened last year to what happened this year. So do the best I can I am going to piece together what I remember.


We had a child that we were excited about and we had talked about having more children. I put it off that year because I just wasn’t ready to be a mom of two. I am glad that I did. I loved spending time with my daughter Libby. I tried to do all the things a good mom should. But like any mom I know I could have done more. I was tired and exhausted that year and we were trying to figure it our working with my family doctor to see what vitamin concoction would give me more energy. I started blogging towards the beginning of our 4th year, but all my posts are about our daughter, because who wants to know about me. I am learning that life needs to be remembered even if I make my blogs more of a journal than anything.

That year I took a photography class though the school district, "community classes". I was so excited to be able to take time for myself; I did not do much after I had a baby. Life got hard and busy, something I wasn’t expecting. I loved the class I learned how to take photos. The teacher said "what makes a photographer is how many more pictures are taken and thrown away".  I had to laugh at that because it’s true I delete the horrible pictures and keep the "ok" ones but photographers just take a whole lot more and has a much bigger trash pile.

I think Libby is cute, But moms are prejudice. Everyone told me she was a doll so… I thought I would put her in a baby contest for fiesta days. I found a little flower girl dress and dressed her up as the "little miss" pageant winner. She refused to smile or interact with the judges so I did not think she would win. To my surprise, She Won first prize in her age group. She got a medal and her picture in the paper.  I was a proud mom!

That year Marshall talked me into getting him a motorcycle (against by better judgment). He found a cheap one that he could use as a commuter since his truck was a gas hog. He had a helmet, gloves, jacket, and all that he needed to ride.  He loved that bike but it was unpredictable. We had it in the shop more often the on the road.  By the next year we sold it. It was a short lived experience.

I worked after I had Libby. It was really hard to leave her but Marshall was home the days I had to work "in office". It was really nice that they had time together. I know now it is really important to Libby to see Marshall.  Now even if it is only 30-60 min a day, but time for a walk together or reading a book means the world to her and I can always use the break.

Marshall also was going to school during this point in our marriage. He was also working full time.  After laking with him today we realized that we did not have much of a life at this point it was; work, school, sleep and repeat.  So we decided that if we went straight through the summers we would be able to be done early and be able to start and maybe finish his master’s degree before he turned 30.  We also wanted to have a life together again, so not seeing each other, and working and sleeping random hours was something we were willing to live with for 2 years. So we started on a long proceed and looking back it was a rough 2 years but in the end I am glad we did it. We had a goal and worked hard to obtain it.

Marshall and I have always tried to set goals.  School was one that was really important to us.  I know Marshall wants to be able to provide the best life for our family.  I am very grateful that he was willing to sacrifice his needs to fill Libby and my needs during those two years.  I know that there were days with little to no sleep.  working long hours and then studying and school.  but he always found sometime to make Libby and my day.  I am glad that he has the determination to succeed and work hard.  I truly love him for that.

the long and the short of Marshall

Finally done! I really, really, wish that I had never stopped going to school in the first place. To finish school after we already had a house, Libby, and a lifestyle that we didn't want to give up was very difficult to say the least! I wish that we would have just settled for the "poor college student" stage of life and done it when we first got married, instead of doing it all backwards. We bought cars, a four wheeler, a house, camp trailer, and really were not too smart with our money. Then when Libby came and we already had the house, working part time to focus on school was not an option. So it is great to finally be done, I feel too old to just be finishing up. If I had started right after my mission and never stopped then I could have my Master's already instead of just starting.

Everyone asks that since I majored in psychology if I have everyone "figured out" or know what's wrong with people, and I have no idea. I am a little disappointed in the degree that I have because I feel that I don't know that much more than I did two years ago. However, the critical thinking and problem solving skills that I picked up on the way are what will make the difference. And the determination to finish. I feel like finishing school is my biggest accomplishment and what I have worked hardest for.

In the next two weeks I hope to be accepted by Villanova University to be in their Masters of Human Resource Development Program. It will take two more years, but it will be a lot more laid back than the last two years we have had. Classes are only one night a week for 2 hours, over the internet. It is a live class that the students can still participate in thru microphones and chat. Each class will be 8 weeks long. But it will cost a fortune so we will have to take our first student loans, which is a bummer. Thankfully USSynthetic is the bomb and will cover 50% of the tuition costs. With that degree I hope that with the growth at USSynthetic that there will be availability in the HR department as well. They are just starting construction on a building that will be done in the next two years and will require a lot more people to be employed to use it.

 

It has been great the last month since finishing school to actually be able to come home at night, see Britt, play with Libby, actually use my Xbox, and watch Jazz games on the day they actually played! I have also been able to play basketball twice a week, and workout daily. It is great and I am trying to take advantage of it before I start school again in March. I am on my third week of P90X and have lost nearly 10 pounds already.

I am really looking forward to this summer of being able to actually go play in the evenings and weekends and have a life again, I think that is when not having school full time will really hit me.

Getting to know Marshall!

A book I highly recommend is: Da Vinci Code - cause I couldn't put it down

My favorite flower is: Not a rose, cause we have a bunch in our yard and I hate having to care for them!

A game I like to play is: Basketball, soccer. football, and sports games on XBOX, if I ever have time.

The music I listen to most is: Alternative & Punk, anything that is upbeat and makes me happy.

My favorite band is: Dashboard Confessional has awesome lyrics.

A movie I watch over and over is: Any James Bond movie, the newest ones are the best.

A T.V. show I watch regularly is: The Office and Modern Family are both hilarious

My favorite quote is: "It's not bragging if you can back it up" - Muhammad Ali

My favorite thing to buy is: Food from a restaurant, I love to eat and I enjoy not having to make my wife cook.

I drive a: 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid and loving the gas mileage

I love to collect: Jazz Memorabilia, I just don't have much still.

If I could afford anything at this moment I would buy: A motorcycle, cause I can't justify spending money on one now.

If my house was burning down and I could only rescue three things, they would be: My Wife, Libby, and a clean pair of socks

A smell that makes me pause is: A dirty diaper!

My favorite sport to watch is: Depends on the season, I love college and NFL football, but come basketball season I am all Jazz.

The city I would most like to visit is: New York or Philadelphia area, I would love to see the historical sites.

My favorite restaurant is: Famous Dave's, greatest BBQ on earth.

A moment when I achieved absolute happiness was: Holding my daughter for the first time, especially now realizing that we will never get to experience that again.

My favorite meal is: Pizza, anything from Totino’s to Pizza Hut

Someone or something that made me laugh this week was: When we went to go on a date and as we leave Libby wasn't sad to see us go, she just yelled "Have fun!"

My earliest memory is: Sledding in the back yard as a child

My first paying job was: Selling cucumbers that I grew in my parents garden when I was 7 or 8. I would ride my bike to the neighbor’s houses to sell them.

The memory that still makes me laugh is: When I saw someones handle bars come off the bike when they tried to jump it.

My best birthday was: Getting my drivers’ license, I felt I was on top of the world.

A smell that reminds me of my childhood is: Cookies that are cooking in the oven cause that means I will get to eat some soon!

The story behind my name is: I am named after the Marshall Tucker and the Charlie Daniels bands, my dad had one last shot to get some rock and roll in there somewhere.

My favorite color to wear is: Everyone tells me I look good in blue, probably cause my eyes are blue.

My strangest possession is: a wet floor sign in my garage

My favorite dessert is: Peanut butter pie made by my wife.

When I exercise, I like to: Shower afterwards cause my wife won't get near me otherwise.

My favorite thing to do on a date is: Tell the waiter it is my wife's birthday so they will sing to her.

The best vacation I ever had was: The weekend we took a 6 hour 4-wheeling ride through the mountains.

The best thing about being married is: Having someone there to love you unconditionally always, and someone who believes in you more than you do.

The thing I am most passionate about is: sports, I love to talk about them with friends and to listen to sports talk radio.

Q1 Do we have a blog Why Yes we do! it is http://marshallandbrittanysecondbigstep.blogspot.com/

Q2 How cold do you like your Bedroom when you sleep If mom's not happy, nobody is happy, so look at Britt's answer and you have mine too....unfortunately.

Q3 Favorite song to listen to when having a bad day: I don't have anything specific, but it has to be upbeat.

Marshall, the love of my life!

So I will tell you a bit about Marshall.  Marshall is the silent type.  He is a no fuss kind of person who just wants to lay low.  He is optimistic and always positive.   He has a great sense of humor he always makes me laugh.  He smiles and laughs alot.  I love telling Marshall stories that I know will make him laugh because his facial expressions make it worth the telling.  He is a hard worker.  He always says just the right thing to make everything better.  He is an observant man.  He watches all that goes on around him and decides what is best for him.  He never does anything half way, he is an all or nothing person.  Marshall is a planner.  He thinks everything through before he talks about it.  He loves football, soccer, basketball, 4 wheeling, camping, music, and eating!