I don’t know who started this but I’m really glad they did. It’s been a genuine pleasure learning more about you guys and gals. What a diverse bunch of folks we have on here!!
Anyway, My dear friend Quantum Storm tagged me in his “7″ post and since he hasn’t given me permission to copy and paste his entry, I’ll have to fabricate* my own here:
1) My paternal grandparents emigrated from Swansea, Wales. My grandfather had worked in the coal mines since the time he was 9 years old. He came to the U.S. without his family at first and continued to work in the coal mines of Pa. until he earned enough money to bring his wife and 4 children over to the states to be with him (several years later).
My father was the first of his children born in America; the 5th child of 7 and 11 years younger than his closest sibling. My grandfather eventually saved enough money to start a grocery store in their small town of Clarks Summit, Pa. Their oldest child still lives there today. She’s 98 years old.
My dad was the first in his family to go to college. At the time, he and my Mom were working opposite shifts trading off daycare duties while he earned his degree at night school.
They lived in a house they bought for $10,000 until I was born. My dad talked about eating baked bean sandwiches for lunch because that’s all they could afford…. Yuck! 
2) I don’t like telling people IRL that I have 13 kids. You’d be amazed how often this question comes up in casual conversation (especially when you don’t want it to). Over the years, there have been all manner of reactions to the size of our family: The curled lip look of disgust; The genuinely surprised (and pleasantly so) look; The *up and down* once over to make sure all my body parts are where they ought to be…. look. :)
After a while, telling people becomes a hassle. Especially when people ask WHY you “did it”. If you’ve ever broken your arm you know what I mean…… complete strangers are constantly asking how you did it. Only they also ask me WHY I did it and sometimes how… or more accurately, if I “figured out” how it happened. People usually say, “You ought to have your own reality show?” I tell them we’d be canceled after the first episode our family life is so wonderfully boring.
A couple of weeks ago I was in my doctor’s office. She had a P.A. student following her that day so we chit chatted about Med. school versus P.A. school. I mentioned my kids Jay, Erin and Sarah were on the MD track but had seriously considered P.A. school as an option…. yada yada yada. She asked me while checking my pulse, “so you have 3 kids?” I hesitated before I answered. I didn’t want to lie, but I really didn’t want to get into it either. I decided to say “Yes, I have 3 kids who are Med school/ Pre-Med students.” It sounded kind of stilted the way it came out. I’m a horrible liar.
Not 30 seconds later the doctor happily whisked into the room and says to the PA, “Did you know this young woman has 13 children?! And she gave birth to all of them???!l…” 
The PA said…. “Ahhh, I thought your answer sounded hesitant.” Yeah….. it did.
3) I couldn’t care less about fashion. Never had a manicure, pedicure or Spa treatment. 9 times out of 10 I cut my own hair (and have my daughter fix what I messed up) I own one pair of high heel shoes and about 4 dresses. I hate clothes shopping for myself and only do it when it needs to be done.
4) I’ve been home schooling since my oldest was 5. I’m not the greatest teacher in the world. It’s not something that I love to do. But I do love being with my kids throughout the day and take every opportunity to tell them so. My love language is physical affection so I constantly hug & kiss them and try to remember to verbally affirm them too. Jeff and I expect a lot out of them academically but we balance it out with fun.
5) I love to read non-fiction especially books on history, theology and politics. Very rarely do I read fiction. There’s this little voice in my head that says to me when I’m reading fiction:
“Psst, this isn’t real… how boring is that?!! Wouldn’t you rather read “History of the English Speaking Peoples”?… The people in that book were real”
Consequently, I’m a boring middle age woman who, until recently, thought Voldemort was a vampire in a romantic teen novel.
O.K…. I lied about that last line. I know who Harry Potter’s father is.
6) I’ve been politically Conservative since the day I was born and an Evangelical Christian since my 20′s. I voted for Gerald Ford in a 6th Grade mock election. There were only 2 kids in my class who did. Me and a kid named Chris Kincaid. Jimmy Carter won in a landslide in that little class room. In 1984, I happily voted for the guy who unseated him in the 1980 general election.
Btw, my Dad didn’t like Reagan at the time but grew more Conservative with age. Kids can…. and do form opinions apart from their parents.
7) On Monday “All Hallows Eve” our family will be going to UVA to attend “Halloween on The Lawn”. Last year I went as Lily Munster. This year I’m going as my Samurai husband’s dangerous side kick (I don’t want to call myself a geisha)
My daughter Sarah is going as Ellen Ripley from Aliens (my favorite fictional female heroine). She looks quite a bit like her.
Siobhan was Joan de Arc last year. This year she’s going as Amelia Earhart. Both great women…
All the family will be there except Mark and Jay. Btw, Mark will be home from Iraq sometime in November we’re told! YAY!!!
I think I look like agent 99 with this wig on… either that or Gloria Vanderbilt in the 80′s.
”Not now 99!!” 
If you’re reading this, and haven’t done this yet, consider yourself tagged by me!!
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