14 Little Known Facts About Sara Lou

I tend to be an open book.  Sometimes more open than you might wish, but ... that is me! Love me or leave me.  You might have seen the phone-commercial lately that says "This is *Sara*. It takes her an hour to tell a 5 minute story..." Yup! That's me!

However, every open book has something in it that you never read!  Something you might have missed the first time. Tonight I'd like to share a few of those "hidden" things about myself!

ONE
In elementary school, I had a BeeGees Thermos in my lunch box. It was Yellow and the picture of the 3 brothers was black & white in an Andy-Worhol/Pop-Art style.
Did I have a CLUE who the Bee Gees were? No. 
Did I feel weird drinking from it? Yes.
Did most of my teachers laugh everyday at me drinking red Kool Aid from the Gibbs Brothers' Chalice? Probably.
I can't remember what my lunch box was.  But I remember (was traumatized?) by the BeeGees.

Tonight, they took the stage on American Idol & I was like... Dudes! you were in my lunch-box every day!  You-all haven't aged a bit! (then I laughed pretty hard).

It makes me second guess everything I do for my children as they are entering the next phase of life.  Should I run out & find a New Kids on the Block lunch box? Heck-Yeah I should - but not for Hayley!!!

TWO
The first cassette tape I ever bought was Bobby Brown's "Don't Be Cruel".  I remember being at the Crystal Target store with Grandpa Bormes.  He said "Would your mom let you have that?" and I said "oh, probably."  I bought it with the money I made on my paper-route.

THREE
Which brings me to - I had a paper route.  I was never "Paper Carrier of the Month" like my big brother was. I remember helping Don when I was in 4th or 5th grade.  When he was old enough for a real job, I took over.  It was so much fun sitting on the tail-gate of the old station-wagon & running up & down the streets, or up & down the stairs of the "ghetto" apartments we lived by.  (When I say fun, I mean I totally hated it).

FOUR
We also collected aluminum cans as we delivered papers.  My first (& really the only) experiences with beer... are the warm, squooshed cans in the parking lot of the apartments.  This is probably why I was 30 before I actually tasted beer. (& it tasted just like those warm squooshed cans smelled).

FIVE
I think the second album I bought was Tiffany & the third was Debbie Gibson's Electric Youth.  I DARE you to guess what the fourth - sixth tapes were!!  Number Seven was either Pray for Rain or DC Talk's Nu Thang.

SIX
I secretly snuck my brother's "Jungle Music" when he wasn't home.  My favorite was Primus? Something about sailing a sea of cheese.  When he was home, I yelled at him to turn it down because I couldn't hear the New Kids.  But when he was listening to Metallica or Van Halen, I secretly listened through the floor vents for a while, first.  Ken, Ken & Malibu Ken used to dance to "JUMP".  (WHAT A FREAKIN' DORK!)

SEVEN
Speaking of dorks.  That was me!  I didn't really have friends in elementary school (Oh, boo hoo, right?).  The kids were really cruel to me.  WELL LAH-DEE-FREAKIN-DAH!  I never cared!  Take THAT!  NEVER. CARED.  The name you-all taunted me with... REALLY original, geniuses. 

(HA!)

EIGHT
Since I'm on THAT subject.  Around mid-sixth-grade, my mom finally said, "Sara - why don't you stand up for yourself?" I asked what that meant.  She said "I don't know, but you will.  If you hit him (Coley), you might get in trouble at school, but you won't get in trouble at home."
So one day, Coley did something really creepy to me.  I walked up to him, squared up to him &... BOOM he hit the ground.  Yup! The biggest girl in class knocked over the biggest (nastiest) boy in class.
It was after that day, this girl got a little respect.  (oh, and p.s.  I never got in trouble at school.  In fact, the 6th grade teacher confided in me... She was SO happy that I stood up for myself, she almost clapped for me.  AND she sent HIM to the office and HE got sent home!)

NINE
Ahhh How cleansing.  I beat up a boy in sixth grade.  Sometime ... maybe during our junior year... that boy walked past me in our high-school and smiled and said "Hi Sara".  I just stared at him and said... "hi."
What I WANTED to say was... HOW DARE YOU SAY HI TO ME??!?!! You have NO right to say HI to ME! Then I wanted to push him over.  BUT by this time, he was the linebacker on the football team and was at least 4 inches taller than me... I didn't go there.

It is hard to stray from that topic! LOL.

TEN
How about we switch to the fact that I really failed my driver's test when I was 16.  The guy gave me my exam paper, said "Congrats you pass." wrote "Pass" on the top in a red marker & then walked away.  I filled out the paper for my license & went home. 

The next day I was sitting in math class, super excited about my new freedom... and pulled out my calculator.  I THINK you needed 65 points to pass.  I added them up for an hour & each time got 62.

ELEVEN
When I was really young - maybe 4 or 5 years old?  My dad had a motorcycle.  We used to go for rides together (maybe I was older?).  One time, I fell asleep on the back.  To this day I think that is why dad got rid of it. 

TWELVE
When I was about 18 months old, my brother "pushed" me into the coffee table & I needed a stitch or 2 in my face.  When I was about 2, Don and I were jumping on the bed and I fell off and broke my collar bone.  I also broke my collar bone at birth.  Actually MOM broke my collar bone.  Those were the only injuries I had until 6th grade.  Then my finger met the sharp end of the apple-peeler-corer-slicer... 'Nuff Said.

THIRTEEN
I have attended a NKOTB concert at every major venue in Minneapolis/St. Paul except the Metrodome.  Harriet Island, the Met Center, the Target Center and Excel Energy Center (Thanks Becky!).

FOURTEEN
In 8th Grade, I entered a dance contest with 4 friends to win tickets to the NKOTB concert.  We made it to the semi-finals! GO US!  Then we turned into these 5 freakishly 14-year-old girls and blew our routine.

Is anyone bored yet?

Hannah Jase Harriger

Since this is "Mother's Day Week", I decided to write letters to my girls!  I think I might just write one for my mom & Tim's mom, too.

Hannah Jase Harriger

My dearest Hannah,
Where in the world do I start with you.  You are an AMAZING gift from God.  God knows what we need before we need it and He knew I needed you.  I'm sure by now you have heard the story a million times about how you came to join our family.  If not, ask me now! I do love telling it.

From the SECOND you were born, I was madly and deeply in love with you.  Almost immediately you were taken away from me because you weren't breathing very well on your own.  You need just a little help.  It was in those moments I realized how lucky we were to have you.  To have the possibility exist that you would be sick - or taken away - broke my heart.  The nurses kept saying you were doing better and that was the one thing I held on to.  Daddy was allowed to bring a visitor to see you in your bubble, but I was the only one not allowed to see you.  I cried.

You fit right into our family.  From the beginning, your big sister LOVED you to pieces.  She wanted to sit next to me & hold your feet when I fed you.  She wanted to sit right next to you in the swing (well, she wanted to push you in the swing...).  She was (and is) the best big sister I could have hoped for for you.

You had a rough few months.  You cried.  All.  The.  Time.  Not just cry, but "Oh My Goodness, someone do SOMETHING because the world is ending" kind of crying (just ask Grandma Harder... she'll tell you).  However, everytime I held you, or fed you... you were quiet.  You loved me. You were MY girl.

You were such a darling baby. You were also fiercely independent from day one.  You WILL do what YOU want to do ... WHEN you want to do it.  If Mommy asked you to jump, you'd lay down.  If I asked you to pick up a book, you'd bring over 3 beanie babies.  Grandma said your ears must be broken, but we both know... You were just marching to your own little band.

You are SUCH a silly girl.  You always are goofing around, making funny faces, telling funny jokes.  When you were about 3 years old, you came to me & said... "Why did the Banana go to the doctor?" ... "Because He wasn't Peeling Very Well!!!" You make me laugh.  You make me smile.

You are also a very dramatic girl.  You will run to me and say "awwwwwwww mommy! I LOVE you!" and give me a bear-hug.  If you see something you like or get something you want... You stare at it & then fall over.  then you say "HOW DID YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU!"

On the flip-side: If you are corrected or disciplined - you completely melt down into a little puddle of Hannah.  You have always cried until your lips turned blue.  You cry... 'BUT MOMMY!!! I LOOOOOOOOOVE YOU!' if I put you in time out or tell you now.  I LOVE it.  Everytime you do it, I want to scoop you up & give you loves and hugs and kisses.  HOWEVER, mommy must stay strong.

As you grow up and turn into a little lady, I wish the very best for you.  You are so tender, so sweet.  I can see you helping others - either as a nurse, a teacher or a circus clown!

Hannah, you are such a bright light in my life.  I love you forever.

My Darling, Hayley Anne. My First Born.

So, my friend Jennie (who lives in my computer) inspired this. 

In honor of what allows me to celebrate "Mother's Day", I will be writing a little letter to my children.

Since she was first... she gets to be first.

Hayley Anne Harriger

My whole life, I dreamt about being a mom. 

A veterinarian, a teacher, a missionary in Hoochie-HulaLand (just a bit south from Singapore, I think) and a mom. You made this dream possible.  (The others didn't work so well for me).

You were no surprise to me.  I knew it was the right time for daddy and I to become parents.  I knew I was pregnant *almost* the moment it happened.  When I was pregnant, I knew you'd be a strong individual.  I knew you'd have a fiery spirit that would eventually get you in trouble.  You would kick daddy in the head when he tried to "listen" to you in my belly.

You showed your stubborn personality even before you were born.  You didn't WANT to come into this world, and no one could make you.  You were 2 weeks late.  All the begging & pleading I did couldn't convince you it was nice "out here".  Every night I cried "please PLEASE come out! I'll be super nice! I promise"  One night I *think* I bribed you with a pony & some ice cream.  But since you refused... Sorry - no pony.  I would watch birth-shows on Cable & say "Doesn't that look easy, baby?  You can do it!"

Toward the end, daddy was even begging you... "PLEASE MAKE IT END!" (I wasn't very nice to be around... I'll admit it).

This picture was 2 days before you came out!

Even when the doctors gave me medicine to get you out - you stayed your ground.  They had to go in after you & you were NOT happy that someone found a way around your determination.

As daddy has told you MANY times - you came out SCREAMING.

When we were in the hospital, many nurses commented about how you were an "old soul" - meaning someone who has been here before.  Of course we don't believe *that* way, but there was a look in your eye that said "Mom, don't try anything funny- I have my eye on you..."

You were determined to do things your way.  Mommy wanted to exclusively nurse you until you were about a year old.  You allowed me to try for 5 months before you made it PERFECTLY clear you were done.  There were way too many things to look at to be bothered by such trivialities as "eating".

You MUST have been reading through my belly button at all the development books.  You rolled over at 4 months, you sat up at 6 months, you broke your first teeth at 6 months.  9-months standing & trying to step.  12 months - running as fast and as far as you desired.  You like to do things by the book. 

You don't like things to be different from the way they're supposed to be.  You yell at daddy when he changes words to songs, you asked me not to sing along with songs because you like it the way it is supposed to be heard. I pray that isn't a reference to my singing ability (which I think is pretty awesome).

You are a rule-enforcer.  Always telling me when Hannah is getting into trouble, or correcting a child at the playground when he is doing something he shouldn't (even if it is something you just did yourself).

You are determined to make everything "right" in your world.  If I call grandpa "Dad" on accident, you say "Oh! I get it! You called him DAD because my grandpa is YOUR daddy! Right?"

When you see a dog, you make sure we all know that at one time, he used to be a puppy.

Silly? Yes you've been silly since day 1 (or maybe day 3.)

You LOVE making silly faces.  You love to laugh & giggle.  Your giggle could run the world... (if we  lived inside "Monsters, Inc", that is).

You are probably the most friendly child I've ever met.  Everyone is your new best friend.  You always say hi to the cashier, the lady behind us, the man sitting alone.  You walk right up to people & say "Hi! My name is Hayley, what is your name?"  Most grown ups don't know what to do with you!

You are a tender, sweet soul.  You can't go to sleep without approximately 853 hugs & 2593 kisses.  Oh.  And you MUST cuddle.  Since you came home from the hospital, dad put you to bed with me.

(I didn't say YOU fell asleep everytime - I said you must cuddle)

I can't say I really really minded the company.  (Shhhh don't tell. I love it).

You are extremely sensitive.  If you are corrected or disciplined, it is all about the emotions.  You feel remorse, but mostly I think you are bummed out that you were caught.

You are now Five years old.  "Five and a Half". Excuse me.  I love watching you grow taller.  I love hearing you read words from books, signs, windows, bumper-stickers on cars.  I love seeing you become a little lady.  You have definitely rocked my world. 

Next year comes the first "big" milestone in a child's life.  Kindergarten.  It puts into perspective all the little milestones I thought were important.  At this stage, I don't remember specifically when you started crawling, I think your first words were Apple & Puppy, but I'm not sure.  I remember you ate Sweet Potatoes first, but I don't know when.  I know I will remember the day you walk into that big school all by yourself. (well, I get to walk you to your classroom the first day, but still...). 

Of course, you'll probably run into the building & beg me not to come with.  You have been waiting for this moment for YEARS.

I love you Hayley Anne.  You light up my life with everything you do.  Even when you are grumpy and not listening, when you stomp your feet and run to your room.  Sometimes I just smile & say... "I got my girl."  You are like me in just about every way.  We have VERY similar personalities, which I believe is why I allow you to stomp and run.  I allow you to yell "THAT IS NOT FAIR".  Because you're right!  (Mom-ism coming) "LIFE IS NOT FAIR!" HA! Now we just have to learn how to deal with it.

I pray for you.  Everyday I pray that God will mold you into the perfect Hayley you can be.  I pray that God will guide and lead you in your life.  That you will ultimately decide to allow Him to lead your life.  I also pray that someday you will grow to be a strong, independent woman.  A woman who knows what she wants.  A woman who is determined to get it - whatever "it" is.

BY POPULAR DEMAND

...And when I say "Popular", I mean 100% of those who commented on my last post requested these.

Thanks Auntie for wanting to see your great-nieces  Grand nieces? How about we change it to "Awesome"... That would make you "Awesome Aunt Renee".  I like that MUCH better than "Great-Aunt".  You are Waaaaay too young to be a great-aunt!

These are from a couple weeks ago when the girls decided it was a good time to go swimming in the lake (yes, the water was approximately 35-degrees!)

Okay the last 2 are from Easter (which would explain the Easter baskets and unusually neat & tidy kids!

I hope that satisfies!