So, several weeks ago, my friend
Holly awarded me, along with many other women, an "Honest Blog Award." I have never really thought that my blog was all that honest--not that I am lying, but I don't always put my true, raw emotions on it. We started our blog when we were first pregnant as a way for our family & friends to keep up on the news of our family...and, while life definitely hasn't happened how we planned, we still love posting pictures and updates.
However, as for this award, I am to post 10 honest things about myself. Here we go...
1. I am very strange in that I will *not* drive Dave around. I believe this is because my dad always felt like it was improper/un-chivalrous for a man to let his wife drive when he (the husband) was in the passenger seat. The only times I have driven with Dave in the passenger seat are when we were coming home from the hospital after Dave's knee surgery and on very long road trips to Colorado and Iowa (and, even then, I only drive for a few hours at the most!).
2. I am OBSESSIVE about ironing--in the last year, life has been busier than ever, so I have "cut back" on my ironing in that I don't iron t-shirts anymore. But, all other clothing in our home is ironed! (If you have ever met my mom, this shouldn't surprise you in the least!)
3. According to Dave, I am "above-average" when it comes to being emotional. If you know me at ALL, you know it is not strange for me to cry once, or more, every day. While I was growing up, my parents said several times that they thought I would "grow out" of crying so much. Well....that didn't happen! However, if I do cry around you, you should know that it just means I feel comfortable with being my real self--emotions, tears, and all!
4. I will not do dishes unless I have gloves to wear. So, if I don't offer to do dishes at your house, it's probably because you don't have gloves by your sink! My friends *love* to tease me about this....but secretly they're just jealous of my pink dishwashing gloves!
5. I grew up without a TV. However, when I was in junior high, my parents did get a TV, but it stayed (unplugged) in our basement. The only times we brought it upstairs was on winter weekends. After all, it was Minnesota, and there wasn't much to do during the long winters. However, even when the TV did come upstairs, we were only allowed to watch videos--never TV programs (besides the Olympics--once!). As a result, Dave & I don't have cable/satellite/anything in our house either--just rabbit ears for us. (No, I'm not joking.) This is another thing our friends love to tease us about!
6. I sometimes get carried away with reading other people's blogs. Dave finally made a rule for me that I can only read other people's blogs that I have actually met in person....I have "stretched" this a few times to people I have seen (though never spoken to or met) in person. :)
7. I am absolutely petrified of 3 things--high-speed rides, heights, and snakes! This is unfortunate for Dave in that he LOVES roller coasters and really wishes I could get over my fear of them! I am so afraid of heights that I get nervous going on escalators...and don't get me started on glass elevators!
8. I absolutely LOVE "Gilmore Girls," and Dave gave me the whole series for Christmas last year. Since then, I have watched it 2 more times completely through. After I have watched a lot of episodes in a row, I start talking about Lorelai and Rory as if they were my real friends....and then Dave has to remind me that it's "just" a show. (Side note: while Dave might act like he could care less about Gilmore Girls, he insisted that I save the series finale for a Friday night when we could watch it together...and he was just as glued to the TV as I was!)
9. I am certified to deep-water scuba-dive....and getting my scuba-diving certification is probably the biggest thing I could have ever done to show Dave how much I love him. We have been diving together in Cozumel & Grand Cayman. But.....during our last trip to Jamaica, I "let" Dave dive while I laid on the beach! (He said this was better anyway since I am such a nervous disaster when I dive with him!)
10. I majored in music education; but, if it hadn't been for that, I would have studied English (I am such a dork that I loved diagramming sentences in high school English class) or elementary education in order to teach kindergarten.
So....there you have it--10 random/honest facts about me!
HONEST BLOG AWARD is now awarded to:
Sandi,
Tiffany, Holly,
Kelly, and
Audra! Can't wait to see your "honest" lists!
And, for a good laugh, read
Kelli and
Heather's honest lists!
Sweet friends Sandi & Jenny
The real dancing queens--Jenny & Amber! If you know Dave & me at all, you know that dancing isn't quite our forte....but even we got out on the dance floor at midnight! 
Happy New Year!
After a fabulous Christmas Eve service at Keystone (where we saw Heather, the boys, & lots of other friends), we headed to the airport to pick up Dave's parents, Tim & Susie. We are so thrilled that they came to Texas for Christmas! From the airport, we went to Kym & Bernie's for Christmas Eve dinner. All the Texas Bergstroms & Sorbels were there, so we threw Dave's poor parents straight into the middle of my wild family. ;) 
After all the presents were opened, we drove up to my parents for Christmas dinner. 
I am so proud that this year I successfully made the 7 Layer Rinn Christmas Jello...it has been unsuccessful in past years, so this was very exciting!
Dinner was followed by more presents and lots of games. Dave finagled enough people into playing Axis and Allies (another new present!) with him...after FOUR hours, here's how the "war" was playing out:
Mary Jo & Corrie filling their cookie containers: 
On Friday night, we had our Christmas Party with our sweet friends from Keystone! It was such a fun night of great food, singing Christmas carols, and a very funny white elephant gift exchange! 
