tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41860244018330969272024-03-14T01:28:14.982-07:00january16thLife is an adventure.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-75339127635084646072010-08-06T15:32:00.001-07:002010-08-06T16:06:37.054-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/TFyQJAx0g2I/AAAAAAAAATk/HJJsBcgjaos/s1600/1+picker+front.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/TFyQJAx0g2I/AAAAAAAAATk/HJJsBcgjaos/s320/1+picker+front.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502431329242088290" border="0" /></a>I have a confession to make, I am addicted to reality TV. I know, big shocker, so is the rest of the world. My addiction to The Biggest Loser hit an all time low when I found out Kristin Steede from season seven lived in my town. When I found out she lived one block away from my closest friend I did what any (not so) rational person would do, I stalked her. I stalked her Facebook, her Twitter, her blog, I drove by her house and I told everyone I knew where Kristin Steede lived. It got so bad my six year old knew when I was doing a drive by and would say, "There's the biggest loser house." I even almost ran her over while hitting the Panera drive-thru. For the record, this was an accidental meeting. I didn't follow her to Panera nor did I plan to run her over. Like most things in my life, my obsession didn't last long. Lucky for her I've lost interest.<br /><br />My addiction, obsession, infatuation, call it what you will, has turned to a first-rate show on the History channel called American Pickers. Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz drive all over the country looking for treasure in other people's trash. They drive around looking for houses with junk in the yards, broken down cars in the driveway and anything rusty that looks like it might be worth some cash. I absolutely love it!<br /><br />The guys and their shop, Antique Archeology, are located in LeClaire, IA which is only 20 minutes down the river from where I grew up. We were back home the second week of July and I knew I had to get to the shop and meet these guys. I called them, I left messages, I sent Tweets, I sent emails...ARE YOU IN TOWN? I NEED TO COME TO YOUR SHOP AND SEE YOU. WHY WON'T YOU TALK TO ME??!?? I got no response. (I'm pathetic, I know this, you don't need to tell me.) When Mike Wolfe posted on his Twitter he was going to the shop early I loaded up my kids and my dad and we headed to LeClaire.<br /><br />We watch the show as a family, so my kids were just as excited as I was to be standing outside the shop. I found these really cool wire baskets that looked like they came from an old swimming pool locker room. The chick at the cash register said they weren't for sale, but I haggled with Mike Wolfe and got one for $20. I even managed to snag an autograph.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/TFyO1leYM_I/AAAAAAAAATc/ttNLiJ2knco/s1600/1+picker+front.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/TFyOmkpmMvI/AAAAAAAAATU/INZkOt8NcjY/s1600/3+basket+collage.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/TFyOmkpmMvI/AAAAAAAAATU/INZkOt8NcjY/s320/3+basket+collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502429638064222962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/TFyOmepfL1I/AAAAAAAAATM/2dNsADrwzEw/s1600/1+picker+front.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/TFyOGf8rkHI/AAAAAAAAATE/0dk1zRfLgQ0/s1600/5+pickers+collage.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/TFyOGf8rkHI/AAAAAAAAATE/0dk1zRfLgQ0/s320/5+pickers+collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502429087046275186" border="0" /></a><br />I was so excited to be there and to be meeting these people we watch on TV I think I checked my brains at the door. I had a conversation with Danielle, one of the girls on the show, and sounded like a complete idiot. I babbled on and on about how much we love the show and my grandma collects antiques and blah, blah, blah. She very graciously nodded her head like she was interested. I think I saw her throw me an eye roll or two.<br /><br />I finally got up the nerve to ask Mike to pose for a picture with me and ofcourse he said yes. I gave the camera to my dad and while I was telling him how to use the camera he snapped this picture. The look on my face pretty much sums up how big of an idiot I felt like the entire time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/TFyOF4nNgQI/AAAAAAAAAS8/zpj_ie-CwHc/s1600/4+mom+kids+and+mike.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/TFyOF4nNgQI/AAAAAAAAAS8/zpj_ie-CwHc/s320/4+mom+kids+and+mike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502429076487241986" border="0" /></a><br />Make sure to set your DVRs because Mike said my baskets will be in an upcoming American Pickers. Very cool!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-80014381299174307952010-04-12T06:06:00.000-07:002010-04-12T06:54:25.012-07:00Nostalgia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/S8MfgfrSSbI/AAAAAAAAAPU/0l_FVjCklL8/s1600/DSC08617.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/S8MfgfrSSbI/AAAAAAAAAPU/0l_FVjCklL8/s320/DSC08617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459241816422500786" border="0" />Nostalgia</a> - The term nostalgia describes a yearning for the past, often in idealized form. The word is a Greek compound consisting of words meaning "returning home" and "ache" or "pain". It was described as a medical condition in the Early Modern Period.<br /><br />I've been dealing with this nostalgia feeling for, well, 20 years I suppose. Recently, though, it's gotten worse. As my children grow and I feel less and less connected to the place where I grew up I find myself remembering things I'd long thought I'd forgotten. I suppose a lot of it has to do with Facebook. As crazy as it sounds, Facebook has catapulted me back to my Catholic school years and my time spent growing up in Illinois. We go back to my hometown on a fairly regular basis, my father and grandmother still live there as well as my husband's children. <br /><br />On a recent visit, I made it a special point to visit with two of my oldest and dearest friends from my early years. They have remained close friends with each other over the past 20 years. One of my friends even married a guy I introduced her to several years ago. Reconnecting seemed easy, like no time had even passed. We spent several hours over a two day span laughing, telling stories and remembering our innocence from that time in our life. Several names were mentioned that I had forgotten, but I seemed to be the one with all the stories still locked up in my head. We're already counting down the days until our next visit in May. As much as I'd hoped that we could pick up right where we left off and be best of friends again, I know our lives our different and our closeness is something of the past. Luckily, no amount of time or space will ever separate me from the memories of those dear friends. Each day I find a new one lurking around the corner of my mind...and I smile when I recall the fun times we had.<br /><br />I made it a point to stop into one local establishment that has held a close place in my heart for over 20 years. Downtown is a little soda/chocolate shop that's been in business for over 100 years. Lagomarcino's. Just the name brings the taste of chocolate to my mouth. Our visit was the weekend prior to Easter, so I convinced my husband to take us to the chocolate shop to buy Easter bunnies for the kids. SOLID Easter bunnies!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/S8Me3K7kswI/AAAAAAAAAPM/Cl8Cgae6HgI/s1600/DSC08622.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/S8Me3K7kswI/AAAAAAAAAPM/Cl8Cgae6HgI/s320/DSC08622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459241106479035138" border="0" /></a>Once you squeeze past all the delicious candy you find a few rows of old, wooden booths to sit and enjoy your ice cream or lunch in. The moment I saw the row of benches I was reminded of the time my mom took me for lunch here. My jr. high was right down the street and one day our parents were allowed to pick us up and take us out for lunch. My mom brought me here. We both ordered grilled cheese sandwiches. It's a memory that I will never forget. My mom passed away a year or so later. I asked the cashier if they still made grilled cheese sandwiches. She said yes with a huge smile on her face. Next time we're in town I'll be taking Hannah for grilled cheese sandwiches.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/S8MejayJquI/AAAAAAAAAPE/kIUUuoR_FBY/s1600/DSC08623.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/S8MejayJquI/AAAAAAAAAPE/kIUUuoR_FBY/s320/DSC08623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459240767137098466" border="0" /></a>Rows and rows and rows of lovely candy filled the glass cases along the entrance of the store. I had forgotten how small the entry way was. When I asked if they minded if I take pictures the lady said, "Nope, lots of people come in just to take pictures." I managed to sneak in between the many patrons crammed into the tiny entrance and snap a few photos of the yummy goodness!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/S8Mdjim0BQI/AAAAAAAAAO8/gwbrx5oVjx0/s1600/DSC08630.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/S8Mdjim0BQI/AAAAAAAAAO8/gwbrx5oVjx0/s320/DSC08630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459239669725398274" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/S8MdJ_PoxTI/AAAAAAAAAO0/gxskfRKbXtM/s1600/DSC08619.JPG">I think every fixture in the store is original or close to original. Nothing had changed from what I could tell. Before we left I closed my eyes and tried to imagine me and my mom sitting in our own booth, me with my Catholic school girl skirt and sweater, her in one of her pairs of navy slacks and plaid shirts. I wish I could remember our conversation that day, but sadly I do not. I cannot wait to take my own daughter back and make some memories of our own.<br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/S8McR4ct5AI/AAAAAAAAAOs/FgulngFIRgM/s1600/DSC08617.JPG"><br /></a>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-17230905195147742942010-04-05T14:25:00.000-07:002010-04-05T14:49:50.940-07:00HmmmmSometimes I just feel stuck. So I stick my nose in a book and forget to remove it. Or I allow my fingers to dance across the keyboard as the time tick, tick, ticks away. Or maybe, just maybe, I'll stick the buds in my ears, turn the volume up and get lost. Is being lost better than being stuck? Hmm, I wonder...<br /><br />I have two library books that are overdue by a month and a half. Will I need to take out a second mortgage on my house to pay the late fee? Maybe the Redbox movies will get returned on time. Only five hours until one dollar becomes two. Procrastination is my middle name.<br /><br />This guy I knew told me that he thought overcooked, crumbled beef reminded him of rat turds. Now every time I cook hamburger it reminds me of him...and rat turds. Tonight I'm cooking sausage.<br /><br />I spend a lot of time in my head. The well beaten path in my subconscious always takes be back to a long, lost memory. I was five, I was twenty, the first time I got married...It seems like I spend more time in the past than in the present. Now I have a chance to go back and I only want to move ahead. Is it too late to try and forget I tried to go back?<br /><br />My favorite teacher in school was my seventh grade homeroom teacher. We called her Mrs. Papa. She was the tall, Greek woman with short brown hair. She is the one who convinced me I like to write. I recently tried to look her up on Facebook but can't remember how to spell her last name. I wonder if there is a website with Catholic school alum teachers? Maybe I'll Google it.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-66734866897080539562009-12-31T13:17:00.000-08:002009-12-31T13:18:41.018-08:00Ringing in 2010!!Well, the new year is quickly approaching and that can only mean one thing…time for the dreaded list of New Year’s Resolutions. This year I want to be more intentional about what I do and who I do it with. I want to spend more time at church and less time on myself. I want to have more dates with my husband. I want to have more game and movie night with my kids. I want to make time for more coffee dates in the middle of the day with my girlfriends. I want to fall madly and deeply in love with the people in my life, my husband and my kids. I want to write more and talk less. I want to work out and eat healthy instead of spending time talking about it. I want to try new recipes and not worry who’s going to complain about it. I want to yell at my kids less and have more patience with my husband. I want to pray more. I want to forget about what’s happened in the past, accept change and look forward to the future. I want to stop being bitter towards the people who seem to have the life I want to have and just make the life I really want for myself. I want to spend more time scrapbooking and less time buying scrapbook supplies. I want to spend more time drinking wine in front of the fireplace with my husband. I want to wake up every morning and be thankful for that day. I want to keep my kitchen clean, my scraproom organized and the office less cluttered. I want to meal plan and stick with it. I want to stop eating out so often. I want to be on the same page as my husband when it comes to disciplining the kids. I want to spend more time with my family. I want to learn to knit. I want to set some goals for my business and then make it happen. I want to learn how to use the grill. I want to meet more of my neighbors. I want to be happy.<br /><br />I want to glorify God in all that do. And if I can do that I’ll be alright.<br /><br />Happy New Year!!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-5574203362590970192009-10-01T19:41:00.000-07:002009-10-01T20:00:22.568-07:00Not much going onWhen I was younger I tried keeping a journal. I would go to Walgreens and buy a beautiful notebook and special pen. I would date the page. The first line always went something like this..."I promise to journal every day. I promise to keep this journal up to date." The next entry was always a month or two later and the first line went something like this..."well, it's been awhile since I last wrote. I will promise from now on to journal everyday." Here I am, 20 years later saying the same things. Guess that old saying "some things never change" is true. I think about blogging every single day, but I'm afraid what I have to say is boring and unimaginative, juvenile.<br /><br />Anyway, I downloaded the disc on my digital camera and found several weird pictures. I know my 5 year old had been playing with it and it was kind of fun seeing things through her eyes. Seems as though she chased the cats throughout the house. This is a picture of my "ugly cat" Lion Head jumping up onto the ottoman. I like this shot because you can see his crazy tail. Those of you who've had the pleasure of meeting Lion head know what I'm talking about.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SsVp-0HruQI/AAAAAAAAAOk/8bzBA5CDxPY/s1600-h/1+lionhead2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387829057082341634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SsVp-0HruQI/AAAAAAAAAOk/8bzBA5CDxPY/s320/1+lionhead2.jpg" border="0" /></a> There he is, the one and only, Lion Head. Isn't he cute. He's got a face only his momma would love. And his momma in this case would be my son. He's the only one who doesn't think Lion Head is weird looking. Even the vet thought he was the strangest cat she'd ever seen.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SsVp-d9tsqI/AAAAAAAAAOc/dUbEmtx6-68/s1600-h/1+lionhead.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387829051134948002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SsVp-d9tsqI/AAAAAAAAAOc/dUbEmtx6-68/s320/1+lionhead.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SsVp9wOUtWI/AAAAAAAAAOU/_YueTM-l5oA/s1600-h/1+kitty.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387829038856582498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SsVp9wOUtWI/AAAAAAAAAOU/_YueTM-l5oA/s320/1+kitty.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is Dopey. We got our cats from a farm and they were already named. Dopey was one from a litter of 7. They were each named one of the seven dwarfs. Dopey stuck. We never even tried to change her name. My kids call her Dopes, which I find hysterical.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SsVp9UM9pyI/AAAAAAAAAOM/Ia4xICykPdQ/s1600-h/1+dopey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387829031334684450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SsVp9UM9pyI/AAAAAAAAAOM/Ia4xICykPdQ/s320/1+dopey.jpg" border="0" /></a> I remember when Hannah took this picture. She thought it was so funny. She ran into the office to show it to me but she was laughing so hard I couldn't understand. I guess it's something only a 5 year old can understand.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SsVp8_U1uqI/AAAAAAAAAOE/LfBYNZYIWAQ/s1600-h/1+both+kitties.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387829025730575010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SsVp8_U1uqI/AAAAAAAAAOE/LfBYNZYIWAQ/s320/1+both+kitties.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Today is October 1st and I don't have my meal planning done for the month, imagine that. I have it on my list of things to do tomorrow. I did find last month that having a plan made it much easier to navigate through the grocery store. If I had one wish I would wish that everyone in my family would eat everything I put on their plates and not complain. Forget a million dollars, I think that would only add more stress. My life would be complete if I could make anything for supper and have everyone eat it without complaints.<br /></div></div></div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-22760630813403708772009-09-03T06:18:00.000-07:002009-09-03T06:35:01.667-07:00Menu Planning<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/Sp_C6H5qBmI/AAAAAAAAAN8/r1gsUcrP9mY/s1600-h/september+menu.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377230783912740450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/Sp_C6H5qBmI/AAAAAAAAAN8/r1gsUcrP9mY/s320/september+menu.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Almost daily I obsess over what to make for dinner. Now that I have two kids in school that means I now have two lunches to obsess over every day. I came up with a system that, three days in, I absolutely love! Every month the school sends home a menu for the entire month. I had both kids pick out the lunches they wanted to eat from the school. Then I made a chart to keep track of lunches and suppers. (See my lovely chart above)</div><div> </div><div>I took a loose leaf piece of paper, put the dates 1 - 30 down the left side and then made two columns. The first column is lunch and the second is supper. I wrote HOT on the days both kids wanted hot lunch. If Bryce wanted it and Hannah didn't I wrote HOT/whatever I wanted Hannah to have for lunch...PB&J with yogurt, for example. I reversed the order if Hannah wanted hot lunch and Bryce didn't. </div><div> </div><div>I made a separate list of all of the dinners I know we all like and that I don't need to a recipe to make. Things like tuna and noodles, tacos, spaghetti, etc. I came up with something like 25 dinner ideas. I decided I wanted to try and incorporate about 10 new recipes a month, more or less depending on the month. So, I plugged the dinners I know how to make into my schedule on the right side of the sheet. I tried to put dinners like spaghetti on the menu the night before one of the kids wanted cold lunch. This way they can take left overs to school instead of ham and cheese or PB&J. </div><div> </div><div>I also added in notes for nights when I won't be home. Luckily September is not as busy of a month during the evenings. The kids have swimming but we're home early enough to get dinner on the table. Hockey starts in October so I'll have more crock pot dinners listed then. I also made sure I added some things from the freezer that I already have set up.</div><div> </div><div>Speaking of food in the freezer, I'd like to get some breakfast items in the freezer. I'm thinking of having a pancake, muffin and waffle day. I'll make huge batches and put them in the freezer for school mornings. Homemade is so much <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">healthier</span> than the alternative!</div><div> </div><div>So that's my meal planning idea for this year. Hopefully I can stick to it. I would much rather take one hour in the beginning of the month to plan rather than taking several hours every week, which what I've done previously. It's not rocket science but meal planning can be a major decision making venture, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">at least</span> it is for me.</div><div> </div><div>I'm always looking for new tried and true, family friendly recipes. If you have any please share!!</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-37337007996971990862009-09-01T19:28:00.001-07:002009-09-01T19:37:36.003-07:00First Day of School<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/Sp3YpM_fJmI/AAAAAAAAANs/vTUPLYTrqq4/s1600-h/first+day+of+school.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376691732523984482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/Sp3YpM_fJmI/AAAAAAAAANs/vTUPLYTrqq4/s320/first+day+of+school.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><p>Well it's official, my days as a stay at home mom have changed. Both of my kids are now full time students. Where does that leave me? I'm not sure. The day was a roller coaster of emotions for me. I woke up excited and happy for my kids. Within the house I was crying and lonely. I have to admit, I spent two hours doing nothing...just enjoying the quiet that had been vacant from my house for the last three months. It was nice. Then I submerged myself into planning for my MOPS group. Didn't I say I would not leave things to the last minute anymore? So much for that!! I spent two hours finalizing notes and agendas and announcements. Things that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">should've</span> been done weeks ago. Maybe it was a good thing. It helped to take my mind off of missing my babies. I showered, ate lunch and out the door I went to setup for MOPS. Two hours later I was booking it through the grocery store to pick up last minute things and then I drove 75 mph back home so I wouldn't miss the kids getting off the bus on the first day.</p><p> </p><p>Luckily I made it in time. I even had a minute to sit back and enjoy the last few minutes of quiet. Then I heard the stop and start of the bus and I stood in the middle of the yard waiting for the bus to drop off my bundles of joy. They hopped off the bus and acted like getting home was the last thing they wanted to do. I stood in the front yard with my arms open waiting for my babes to come running and jumping into my arms. Yeah, so didn't happen. Hannah did hug me and tell me she missed me, but Bryce barely acknowledged my existence. </p><p>So, we made it through the first day. Hannah later told me she had a great day and was so glad I signed her up for school...as if I had a choice! Hannah is home now until Friday so the next couple of days will almost feel normal. My husband is scheduled for knee surgery on Friday so I will be too busy and worried for him to worry about my babies at school. Then no school on Monday. So, I'm guessing it will be next Tuesday before I'm able to fully enjoy the quiet house and my new place in this crazy life as stay at home mom to two full time students! Wonder what I'll find to do?</p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-55061038921789570182009-07-31T07:09:00.000-07:002009-07-31T07:21:51.285-07:00Special Ops Mission Week 1<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SnL7IRdf86I/AAAAAAAAANk/MPyMQcxQjEM/s1600-h/jen+cropped.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364626225696338850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 201px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SnL7IRdf86I/AAAAAAAAANk/MPyMQcxQjEM/s320/jen+cropped.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>I recently joined a website called Operation Fat Blaster looking for more motivation while I attempt to get rid of this weight. So far it's been very motivational. One of the things this website is offering is called Special Ops Mission. Each week the site owner is giving us a "mission" and once we complete it we go into a drawing for a prize. Since I love free stuff I thought I'd give this week's mission a try. So, what is the mission? To post about what hurdle/challenge we need to overcome in order to succeed. We were also asked to post a picture. </div><div> </div><div>So, within a second of reading the mission I knew the answer. My biggest hurdle/challenge is ME! Yes, I love ice cream, fried chicken and pizza, but I also love spinach and chicken and fish and fruits and veggies and hummus. I don't mind eating healthy, in fact, I rather prefer it. So, the only thing standing in the way of me doing that is me! I could say it's the ice cream, but I ultimately make the decision to eat it.</div><div> </div><div>The next part of my mission was to post a picture. I hate having my picture taken, so finding one of me is difficult. I started sifting through my pictures and found this one. I felt so good on this particular day. I just had a new haircut that I liked and I felt pretty. Then I had this picture taken and realized I didn't look as good as I thought, because I was still fat! This picture also came out really blurry. I thought it was rather ironic because most days I feel like I'm living a little blurry. Kinda like I'm not living each day to it's fullest potential. I struggle most days trying to figure out who I really am and who I want to be. Unfortunately, the only thing standing in the way of being me is me, well me being fat I guess. </div><div> </div><div>So this completes my first Special Ops Mission. I hope that in the coming weeks and months the only thing standing in the way of me reaching my goal is NOTHING! I know with time I will learn to love myself right where I'm at and the space I do take up will get smaller. </div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-31359315856713112942009-07-29T08:30:00.001-07:002009-07-29T08:57:42.111-07:00Back in the saddle againWell, it's been a veerrryyyy long time since the last time I blogged. Shame on me. I think about blogging almost everyday, but seem to run out of time. I'm dedicated to making the time each day to blog a little something. A lot has happened since my last blog, but I won't bore you with all the details. Here are a few highlights, as I can remember them:<br /><br />Last week the kids and I attended our churches version of VBS. Our church is over 30 mins. away so I agreed to help so I wasn't driving around for 3 hours spending money. Well, I got talked into teaching a class, Bugs and Butterflies. A lot of preperation went into teaching the class and in the end I'm so glad I did it. Monday afternoon I said I was never doing this again, but by Friday I was planning for next year. The kids were sooo tired! I have never seen my son as tired as he was at the end of the each day. They learned a lot about God and had fun doing it. I think we're all looking forward to next year.<br /><br />We took our family vacation at the end of June. We rent a cabin up North and my dad and his wife join us. This year the boys went up for a few days and the girls hit Door County. We bought some cherries, took a trolley ride and enjoyed the scenery. The boys, however, had rain, wind and cold. The weather broke long enough for them to enjoy their fishing guide, which my step-mom and I bought our hubbys for Father's Day. They caught 300 bluegills and were in fish heaven.<br /><br />I joined a 9 week Biggest Loser challenge right before vacation and lost 10lbs. Brent and I have joined another 9 week challenge together. We're finishing week two tonight. So far we've both lost 4lbs. I'm so excited to have lost this weight. I know I have a very long way to go, but this is the longest I have kept weight off since I was young. I'm still enjoying exercising, but I need to do it more often. I'm hoping once the kids are back in school I'll have more time. However, I'm trying not to let lack of time deter me from exercising. It's hard though. I recently joined a group online that I'm hoping will help to keep me accountable.<br /><br />Speaking of losing weight, I want to start a weight loss blog, but I'm too lazy to start a new blog. Plus, I'm easily confused and I'm afraid if I have two blogs to manage I'll end up posting weight loss info here and family stuff on the other blog. So you'll be seeing some weight loss posts here as well...lucky you!<br /><br />Emotionally I've been struggling a little bit. Mostly with feeling comfortable in my marriage. I'm holding on to the past and need to let go and let God. I had a total "God moment" yesterday. I've been spending a lot of time trying to figure out how to get my husband to change so that I no longer worry. I just haven't found the right words. So yesterday when I opened my email I found an email from Family Life. They are offering a free DVD about forgiveness if you send them a donation. Here is a little of the email: You'll learn the secret of releasing the offender from your courtroom to God's justice - How to follow Christ as a debt forgiver and hostage releaser - And it goes on from there. Those two things stuck out to me like a sore thumb. I am holding my husband in my courtroom...whew, that's a tough one to let go. Also, I feel like I'm holding my husband hostage as well as my emotions and the possibility of forgiving and letting go. Lots to work on but I want to do it, which will make it easier. I love it when things just fall into my lap like that.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-64641780137435223952009-03-25T12:28:00.000-07:002009-03-25T12:39:23.976-07:00Seriously? Or seriously....Have you ever noticed how many times a day you say "seriously"? Ok, maybe it's just me. Seriously? Is it? I don't think so. Take right now for example...I just pulled up my blog knowing it had been a looooong time since I last updated and realized it had been almost two months. Seriously?!!! Has it really been two months? I seriously said that outloud (ops, that one slipped out). Here's another example: I had to drive all the freaking way out to Darboy today, it's like going to another country or something, and on the way back I noticed something weird going on in the car in front of me. We're on an interstate going like 68 mph and this lady has her cat walking all over her back, from shoulder to shoulder. The lady could not keep her eyes on the road, there's no way! Seriously? You have your cat in the car? First off, cats don't like to dangle their heads out the window like a dog...they're cats! Secondly, what if the cat had to use the facilities? Cats can't be let out of the car to lift it's leg behind a tree. Seriously lady, if you want to ride around town with your animal in the car get a dog, it would be much safer for both you and me...seriously!<br /><br />See what I mean? Both instances the use of the word seriously are totally appropriate.<br /><br />I had some revelations today, wanna know what they were? I'm glad my husband shaved his mustache. My ex-husband once said he looked like a 70's porn star with that mustache. I had a hard time looking at it after that comment. So glad it's gone. I also realized that I am going out of town this weekend to see one of my best friends in the whole, wide, world and my laundry isn't done, the house is a mess and I have a full day planned tomorrow. Every time we have a road trip I swear that I will not leave everything until the last minute. Guess what? I've left everything to the last minute. Seriously!? Op, there it is again!!!<br /><br />I'm so glad Spring is right around the corner. I'm tired of the cold and the snow and the yuck. However, driving past the closed snowmobile trails has made me a little bit sad. Seriously.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-8605712438191377272009-01-26T10:40:00.000-08:002009-01-26T10:55:36.743-08:00Ramblings...We've incorporated a new Chore Chart system at our house. The kids are really enjoying it and their beds are made every day! Yeah!! I plan to put together a post with pictures outlining what we're doing. Look for that in the days to come.<br /><br />We had a very lazy, relaxing weekend. The kids were off from school on Friday. Bryce had a swimming birthday party at the Y in the afternoon. Then Bryce had hockey practice at 5:00. We hit our favorite fish fry and went to bed with full tummies.<br /><br />Saturday was equally as relaxing. Bryce had hockey in the morning. We spent the rest of the day doing things we've been putting off. The bills got paid and the closet got clean. If I could sleep in that closet I would! It is now officially my favorite room in the house...because it's totally clean and simply organized! The kids played with dominoes all morning. We went to the Green Bay Gamblers game in the evening. We are turning into quite the hockey family! The Gamblers are 19 and 20 year old kids who aren't in college and haven't been picked up by anyone. I am amazed at how aggressive this team is! They are currently in first place in their division. They won Saturday's game 6-0. It was a late night but a great day!<br /><br />Sunday we went to late church. We slept in which is a rarity at our house. Even Brent was in bed until after 6:00 am. We made it to church on time which is also a rarity! Pastor Mark was awesome! The way he preaches makes me want to be a believer! His words are so powerful and yet so normal. He's a regular guy living a regular life with a huge passion to spread the word of God. I am so thankful that we have found his preaching and his church. What a lifesaver for our marriage and our family! Praise God!<br /><br />Hannah and I took a moment to snuggle in her new bed. It's not often enough that I get to sit with either one of my children and just have a conversation with them. So I said, "Hannah, what do you want to be when you grow up?" She was looking for the answer somewhere in her room. She finally says, "A painter." "Do you want to paint bedrooms or do you want to paint pictures?" I asked. "Bedrooms," she said while intently looking at her painted walls. Then she says, "I want to paint bedrooms when I'm 80." She's been referencing ages of when she'd like to accomplish things lately. 80, however is a new number. Her response has regularly been 61. "Hannah, you know Grandma Helen is 80, right?" I said, trying to get her to understand just how old 80 is. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "WHAT? I didn't know she was THAT old?!" Trying not to laugh I said, "So, do you still want to paint bedrooms when you're 80?" "No way!"<br /><br />I am so gonna scrapbook that!<br /><br />One more thing I've been pondering is the fact that I am not perfect nor will I ever be perfect. I have this nasty habit of comparing myself to people who are closer to perfection than I will ever be. This only makes me feel worse about myself. I am vowing to stop doing that, honestly. I am who I am and that's all I can ever be. I'll never be perfect, my house will never be perfect, my children, God love'em, will never be perfect. I have been blessed with a happy, healthy family, loving friends and the faith that I am perfect in God's eyes. I am happy with what I've got. I'm happy with who I'm becoming and I'm happy that even though I stress and worry about these crazy things that God still loves me! And that's a fact Jack! (name that movie....)Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-68639522552398857822009-01-20T13:52:00.000-08:002009-01-20T14:02:56.850-08:00The Great Grocery Debate<div id="ms__id10">I admit I do not lead a healthy lifestyle. I never have. I come from a family where we were all overweight. My brother and my father both have diabetes and are overweight. My mother was heavy most of her life and was overweight when she died. I know the difference between healthy and not healthy foods but eating healthy is not something I'm used to. My kids eat chicken and fries and mac and cheese. I'm not ok with that, but that's the facts. So, when it comes time to plan a menu I panic. I want to have healthy options for all of us but I can't seem to figure out how to incorporate that into our daily routine without totally stressing out about it. I tend to go in one extreme or another. I either buy organic everything or everything is processed. </div><br /><div id="ms__id11">So today was grocery day. I woke up prepared to make a list of what to buy. I pulled out several cookbooks and started sifting through looking for the perfect recipes. I need to please both kids and my husband with one meal. Believe me, this is not an easy task. Either the kids won't touch it or my husband won't eat it. I'm not picky. I really do enjoy vegetables. I think my problem is coming up with something everyone will eat. I did buy lots of fruits and veggies and I am bound and determined to make everyone try everything this week. </div><div id="ms__id12"> </div><div id="ms__id13">So if you're reading this and you don't have this problem are you willing to share some advice? What do you cook for your family during the week? What kinds of things do you have on hand for your kids? I love being the domestic engineer of the family but this is the one part of my job I can't stand. I wish I had a personal chef.....</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-38148674316518716552009-01-19T11:09:00.000-08:002009-01-19T11:21:18.682-08:00January 16, 2009<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SXTSluRwQYI/AAAAAAAAANM/2-x-hAqWv84/s1600-h/cake+and+me.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293087007586664834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SXTSluRwQYI/AAAAAAAAANM/2-x-hAqWv84/s320/cake+and+me.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Well, January 16, 2009 has come and gone. I woke up a year older with a huge zit on my chin and school was cancelled. This has to be some kind of cruel joke, maybe I'm dreaming. I'm 35 now, do I really need more blemishes? I think not. Luckily the kids were good and we managed to schedule a playdate/MOPS meeting that kept the children busy for close to 4 hours. After the playdate we met Brent at the builder's office. We're trying to decide if we want to build again. I know we have got to be the craziest people alive. We have moved so much in the past 5 years you'd think moving again would be the furthest thing from our minds. But it's not. It's right there in the front of my mind every single day. Anyway, we spent 2 hours with the builders talking cabinets and flooring and spindles! I could feel the adrenaline rush as we walked into his office. We were surrounded by window samples, brick samples, doors and roof samples...I was very excited. All we have to do now is make an appointment to meet with the cabinet people and we'll know how much this house will set us back. Then we make the tough decision...to build or not to build. Lots to look forward to in the coming year.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I had planned on making the family sit through another round of hibachi at Nakashima's but decided at the last minute a steakhouse might be the better choice. Everyone was starving and I was afraid noodles, rice and shrimp just wasn't going to cut it. It turned out to be a good choice because my steak was rockin'! The kids told the waitress it was my birthday and she surprised me with a gigantic scoop of ice cream with whipped cream and hot fudge. The great birthday cake dibacle had not escaped our grasp this year (meaning the red velvet cake was not done yet) so the ice cream was the perfect ending. And I got to finish celebrating my birthday the next day once the cake was finished. I must say, this was the best cake to date! I've had green red velvet cake, I've had terribly dry red velvet cake and this year I had PERFECT red velvet cake. Thank you honey! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So, I'm 35 now. I guess it's time to start acting like an adult. But I don't WANNA!!</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-52653453996959607932009-01-13T16:17:00.000-08:002009-01-13T16:43:27.600-08:00Happy 2009Wow, it's 2009. Time flies. I can clearly remember ringing in the year 2000 waiting for the Y2K explosion...that never came. My husband, at the time, and I had his family over to play cards and celebrate the new year together. We went downtown Davenport, IA to watch the huge fireworks display at midnight. It was very cool. It's a night I'll never forget. Thank goodness none of what everyone thought would happen actually happened. Now that we've reached 2009 that New Year's Eve of 1999 seems like it happened to me in an alternate life. My life is so far from where it was in 1999 I sometimes forget what life was like back then. And just like every year since then and before, I made the traditional New Year's resolutions. I'm sure the resolution consisted of two things, quit smoking and lose weight. 9 years later I'm still trying to lose weight but have fortunately kicked the smoking habit, for good. Once again I made some resolutions as 2009 began. #1 slow down. Life is wizzing by and I'm missing it because I'm too busy. I can only eliminate so many things on my schedule so #2 is to be more organized. I feel like I might have more time if my life was more organized. I have around 538 more resolutions, give or take, but I won't bore you with the details. Here's to a new year. Hopefully this year some of the money I lost in the stock market will come back and maybe some of the junk in my trunk will find it's way to another trunk.<br /><br />So, to start the new year off right I have a recipe to share. I really love to cook. I do. I think I like it almost more than I like to scrapbook. I'm just better at the cut and paste. Anyway, this recipe is taken from Rachael Ray but I made a few changes. It's a great lunch or quick supper recipe. This was the first time I made it but I'm sure I'll make it again.<br /><br />Taco Pockets<br />2T. EVOO<br />1 1/2lbs. ground sirloin<br />1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped<br />2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped or grated<br />1t. chili powder<br />1t. ground cumin<br />a few dashes of hot sauce<br />2 scallions, white and green, chopped<br />salt and pepper<br />4 round tortillas<br />taco sauce<br />shredded cheddar<br />shredded lettuce<br />tomato<br />Place a large skillet over med-high heat. Coat the pan with EVOO.<br /><br />In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground sirloin, jalapeno pepper, garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, onions, salt and pepper and hot sauce. Form the meat mixture into four patties. Cook the patties on the hot skillet until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 mins. on each side.<br /><br />While the burger patties are cooking, turn a gas burner to high and blister the flour tortillas by passing them over the flame quickly. If you don't have a gas stove, place a dry skillet over high heat and lay the tortillas, one at a time, into the hot skillet, blistering them on both sides.<br /><br />As the patties finish cooking, transfer them to the tortillas and top each with some taco sauce, shredded cheese, lettuce and tomatoes.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SW0weYLQ6tI/AAAAAAAAANE/3kmcNltV-20/s1600-h/web1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290938435674106578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SW0weYLQ6tI/AAAAAAAAANE/3kmcNltV-20/s320/web1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Fold the tortilla around the burger, enclosing it in a pocket. Cut each pocket open on a diagonal and serve. This makes the pocket. It's ingenius! Nothing drips and it turns a regular hamburger into something totally different!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SW0weXiwpBI/AAAAAAAAAM8/qLEFi0ogJnE/s1600-h/web2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290938435504219154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SW0weXiwpBI/AAAAAAAAAM8/qLEFi0ogJnE/s320/web2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I added a bit too much of the "dressing" and mine was a bit hard to eat. I also eliminated almost every ingredient because I was in a hurry and wanted to use what I had on hand. (This is another one of those 987 new year's resolutions I have going on.) What I had on hand was the sirloin and the Pampered Chef Chipotle Rub that just came in the mail!!! It was rockin' for sure! Even this guy liked it!!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SW0weHYEriI/AAAAAAAAAM0/__AW_CjdcgQ/s1600-h/web3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290938431164427810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SW0weHYEriI/AAAAAAAAAM0/__AW_CjdcgQ/s320/web3.jpg" border="0" /></a> I don't know what you think, but this face says, "I love it when you take my picture! Take more! More I say!!" Isn't that what you think this face says? No? Yeah, maybe not.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-70123694637274047742008-12-19T12:21:00.001-08:002008-12-19T12:27:14.268-08:00I need more time<div id="ms__id271">24 hours is just not enough. I cannot possibly get done all I have to get done with only 24 hours. Life has gotten so hectic over the last couple of months. I feel like we have something going on every night of the week! My house is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wreck</span>, my Christmas cards didn't make it in the mail, presents need to be wrapped, groceries need to be bought, dishes need to be done...it never ends. I started working on my New Year's Resolutions the other day. At the top of the list is to slow down and get more organized. In a perfect world I would never forget to do something I needed to do, I'd be on time to everything and I'd have enough time to get it all done. Ugh! I wish I could write more, but I don't have time!</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-66027145038625458922008-12-03T13:07:00.000-08:002008-12-03T13:16:31.750-08:00I love me some Facebook<div id="ms__id14">Do you <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Facebook</span>? I don't even know if that's the correct <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">terminology</span>. I've never been too hip with the sayings...I'm guessing it's not hip to use the word hip anymore. Anyway, a few months ago I got an email saying one of my MOPS mom friends wanted to add me as a friend on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Facebook</span>. I have a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Facebook</span> account? I believe those were my exact words. After several failed attempts, I finally located my password <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">buried</span> deep in the part of my brain where I like to store stuff I'll probably never use again. And the rest, as they say, is history! I am a total addict. I check it several times a day every day. If you don't have an account run, don't walk...or type really, super <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">fastly</span>, whatever, over to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Facebook</span>.com and open an account. Then add me. I love having friends!</div><div id="ms__id15"> </div><div id="ms__id11">Lately I have been adding friends from grade school...we're talking <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">waaayyy</span> back when we all had to wear those tacky plaid dresses to Catholic school. It's been a lot of fun catching up with old friends and even some people that I wasn't so chummy with in school. Most of the girls I'm finding are married with kids and living a million miles away from our hometown. As I'm taking trips down memory lane I'm wondering if they have changed. Some of the girls were snotty or nerdy or very friendly or very, very smart. I'm wondering if they are the same way now? Then I got to thinking...am I the same way now? I don't know how I would define who I was then but I am fairly certain I am different today. I've had children, been married, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">dealt</span> with death and moving and the good times that are high school and college. How could we not all be different? And how cool that we have this awesome medium to reconnect?!</div><div id="ms__id12"> </div><div id="ms__id13">I have to admit, I am enjoying seeing people who are now not as skinny as they once were, people who aren't as pretty as they once were and people who are much nicer than they used to be. When I was in grade school and just learning to use the computer we didn't know anything about the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">internet</span> or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Facebook</span>. I am amazed at how far technology has come. I can't wait to see how far it is when my children are my age. </div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-64024510518838661612008-11-24T12:57:00.000-08:002008-11-24T13:38:37.498-08:00Grandma Erwin<div id="ms__id72"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SSsVmFBovJI/AAAAAAAAALs/3sVTdGvcgBQ/s1600-h/Christmas+web.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272331532695551122" style="WIDTH: 183px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SSsVmFBovJI/AAAAAAAAALs/3sVTdGvcgBQ/s320/Christmas+web.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div id="ms__id73"> </div><div id="ms__id63">Growing up my Maternal Grandmother and I were pretty good friends. Some of my earliest memories include my Grandma Erwin. As Christmas approaches I can't help but think of her. Every year she would take my brother and I out Christmas shopping. She allowed us to pick out whatever we wanted, within reason, and that was pretty much our Christmas presents. She took it all home, wrapped it, and put it under the tree. Some years we would go so early in the year I'd forget what I had chosen, which made Christmas morning even more fun. I clearly remember going to Benetton and begging her to buy me a shirt. All the kids had one! She was reluctant because they were a bit pricey but she agreed to buy a peach colored shirt with Benetton in different colors. After one wash it shrunk up so much my doll almost couldn't wear it. She marched right back to the store and got her money back. I had to go with and was never more embarrassed!<br /></div><div id="ms__id64"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SSsVliutOdI/AAAAAAAAALk/XJT_k3HQwuY/s1600-h/Christmas+5+web.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272331523489348050" style="WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SSsVliutOdI/AAAAAAAAALk/XJT_k3HQwuY/s320/Christmas+5+web.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div id="ms__id65">I spent many nights sleeping over at my Grandma Erwin's house. She lived, with my Grandpa, in a small house in Iowa. It was the house my mother grew up in and the house I would eventually call my own. Even today I will smell something that reminds me so clearly of that house. It had a particular smell that I just loved, and still do. We would open Christmas presents at home, my mom, dad, brother and I, and then we would go to Grandma Erwin's for breakfast. I can vividly remember the first Christmas morning when we realized she was sick. Christmas breakfast was cancelled and Grandma went to the hospital. She had shingles and then we later found out she had a brain tumor. Now that I'm an adult I long for those Christmas breakfast mornings. Life was so simple and predictable. My Grandpa always had Juicy Juice out of a can ready in the fridge. If I close my eyes I can see us all there sitting in the kitchen at the table. I can see the tan and pink stripes on the carpet, the green lamp hanging from the ceiling and the bell that hung in the doorway. I can see my mom and dad and my Grandpa in his blue, plaid flannel. Hmmm, I don't see my brother, wonder where he is. Oh I'm sure he's there, I just block it out of my memory! Only kidding.<br /><br /></div><div id="ms__id74"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SSsVlimJCGI/AAAAAAAAALc/wHPXfNdfmGA/s1600-h/Christmas+4+web.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272331523453421666" style="WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SSsVlimJCGI/AAAAAAAAALc/wHPXfNdfmGA/s320/Christmas+4+web.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div id="ms__id70">My Grandma Erwin died August 27, 1996. Her brain tumors finally got the best of her and she ended up in a nursing home. I never visited her as much as I wanted to. It was difficult for me to see her. She was clearly not the Grandma I had known all my life. Close to the end she didn't even know who I was. She would occasionally call me by my mother's name, which made the visits almost unbearable. So I stopped going to see my Grandma. It was a decision I now regret more than any other bad decision I've made in my life. She was at the nursing home only 18 months, but it probably seemed like a lifetime to her and to my Grandpa. I did go see her the day she died. She was thin and weak and not the person I remembered as my Grandma. While it was very hard to see her that way, I'm glad I was there shortly before her death. </div><div id="ms__id71"> </div><div id="ms__id66">She was the best friend I have ever had. She played Uno with me for hours without complaint. She would call me up out of the blue and say, "Lets go shopping!" As I got older we would go to Weight Watchers together and then promptly out to lunch at the Chinese place we both loved so much. She let me drive her Escort while I was learning to drive and never flinched! She was part of a Birthday Club that met once a month at a restaurant for lunch to celebrate the birthdays of the group for that month. Even after my Grandma's death I remained close with many of the woman in that club. When the gambling boats came into town she would always be sure to share her winnings with my brother and I. And when she lost big she'd always say, "Don't worry kids, it's just your inheritance!"<br /></div><div id="ms__id69"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SSsVlc7VrPI/AAAAAAAAALU/sgp8VkUmWz0/s1600-h/Christmas+2+web.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272331521931717874" style="WIDTH: 198px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SSsVlc7VrPI/AAAAAAAAALU/sgp8VkUmWz0/s320/Christmas+2+web.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /> While cleaning out my Grandparent's house after the death of my Grandpa, I found this little box filled with post cards sent to my Grandma's father back in 1912 and 1913. There were a few that were sent as a Christmas card but most of them were birthday post cards. I thought it would be fitting to add those post cards to this post. They remind me of simpler times. They were simply addressed to Earl Allicks Letts, IA. No specific address. It amazes me that they arrived to the correct destination. I can't imagine addressing a letter today with the name and the town and then having it arrive to the correct house. We have certainly grown and evolved.</div><div id="ms__id68"> </div><div id="ms__id67">This Christmas I would like to spend some time remembering my Grandma Erwin. I hope to show pictures of her to my children and tell them stories about sleepovers and Chinese food. It makes me sad to know that my kids don't have the opportunity I had to spend time with their Grandmothers. I think we'll play a game of Uno with the kids in remembrance of my Grandma Erwin.<br /><br /><br /></div><div id="ms__id58"></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-36979975689301615842008-11-15T11:35:00.000-08:002008-11-15T11:53:51.048-08:00The Mall<div id="ms__id31"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SR8ou0HYeQI/AAAAAAAAALM/9YFX1eIPFGc/s1600-h/DSC00379.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268974873775470850" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SR8ou0HYeQI/AAAAAAAAALM/9YFX1eIPFGc/s320/DSC00379.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SR8ouYlnUYI/AAAAAAAAALE/p513xb8vvlw/s1600-h/DSC04196.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268974866386080130" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SR8ouYlnUYI/AAAAAAAAALE/p513xb8vvlw/s320/DSC04196.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div id="ms__id29">Bryce had parent, teacher conferences Friday which meant no school for Bryce or Hannah. My husband had to work so I had to find something to keep us busy. I don't know why, but when my husband is gone time seems to tick by at an exceedingly slow speed. So we decided to have lunch at the mall. Our mall has a great softish play area surrounded by the food court. I decided to allow the kids to eat and then I had lunch while they played.</div><br /><br /><div id="ms__id30"></div><br /><br /><div id="ms__id27">While I was eating and watching the kids play I was remembering how often we came to the mall when we first moved to Wisconsin. Hannah was not walking yet and Bryce was only 3. I had diapers to change and strollers to park. As time went by, Hannah learned to crawl up the steps and go down the slide. The first year or so I would need to be near her so she didn't get trampled by the bigger kids. As time went by, I was able to sip a coffee while sitting on the sidelines. Soon enough, having lunch at the mall was something only Hannah and I did because Bryce was in school.</div><br /><br /><div id="ms__id28"></div><br /><br /><div id="ms__id22">Our time spent playing at the mall has certainly evolved into something quite different today. I sat outside of the play area and ate my lunch with no worries of my small child escaping through the entrance. I didn't have to remind Hannah to go down the slide and up the stairs, not the other way around! I was able to look down from my children, take a bite, jot down a note or two and not fear my daughter had pulled someone's hair or my son had run around knocking other kids down. My kids are growing up.</div><br /><br /><div id="ms__id26"></div><br /><br /><div id="ms__id23">The saddest part is, my kids are growing up! Soon enough we'll walk through the doors of the mall for lunch and neither kid will ask if they can play. Soon enough the soft play area will be part of our past. As each day passes I'm reminded more and more how my life is preparing for a shift in seasons. The days of play dates and mall play areas are almost gone. I'm sad to some degree. However, I'm mostly excited to see what the next season of mothering has in store for me and my family.</div><br /><br /><div id="ms__id24"></div><br /><br /><div id="ms__id25">Thanks for the good times mall play area. Our time with you might be gone but will never be forgotten.</div><br /></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-53071459793226347132008-11-03T13:25:00.001-08:002008-11-03T13:40:03.043-08:00For Uncle Jimmy<div id="ms__id57"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SQ9tHw4WN6I/AAAAAAAAAK8/8RyMts7h2pk/s1600-h/bryce+34.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264546469567149986" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SQ9tHw4WN6I/AAAAAAAAAK8/8RyMts7h2pk/s320/bryce+34.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div id="ms__id58"> </div><div id="ms__id59">Flag football season has come to an end. Bryce was a total all-star! They designed a play specifically for him. He played center AND receiver. They would fake a hand off and Bryce would be way out in the field all alone, and the QB would throw it. It didn't work very often, but it was cool when it did!</div><div id="ms__id60"> </div><div id="ms__id55"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SQ9tHVC8tVI/AAAAAAAAAK0/x0gipTuKofI/s1600-h/bryce+8.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264546462095422802" style="WIDTH: 145px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SQ9tHVC8tVI/AAAAAAAAAK0/x0gipTuKofI/s320/bryce+8.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div id="ms__id56">This kid can run! He has the best eye for where the ball is. At the last game he captured almost <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">all </span>of the flags. When the opposing team was blowing past three and four kids at a time Bryce would be the one to pull the flag. Amazing!<br /></div><div id="ms__id50"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SQ9tHJj_OyI/AAAAAAAAAKs/HU2R_jkrqXM/s1600-h/bryce+7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264546459012774690" style="WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SQ9tHJj_OyI/AAAAAAAAAKs/HU2R_jkrqXM/s320/bryce+7.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ok</span>, so sometimes he got a little bit rough. He likes to tackle. I've had a House Rules sign up in our house for almost 3 years now. The #1 Rule is Keep your hand to yourself. Do you want to take a guess at how many times a day I say "Keep your hands to yourself, Bryce!"? Lets just say I say it more than once. He was kind of the Brett <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Favre</span> of flag football. He broke a lot of records and one of them was getting the most penalties for tackling.<br /></div><div id="ms__id51"><div id="ms__id54"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SQ9tGvV0pRI/AAAAAAAAAKk/p40fBvhPmrQ/s1600-h/bryce+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264546451974038802" style="WIDTH: 262px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SQ9tGvV0pRI/AAAAAAAAAKk/p40fBvhPmrQ/s320/bryce+2.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div id="ms__id53"> </div><div id="ms__id52">I'm already looking forward to what next year brings. One of the parents was hanging kinda close to us at the last game. He finally said, "So, what school does Bryce go to?" The kids go to different schools, and I could tell this dad was a little upset. He went on to say, "Not all kids have an eye for football, but you know when a kid's got it, ya know? Bryce has got it." I just smiled, but inside I was thinking..."I know!"<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div id="ms__id48"></div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-86834450740201384742008-10-30T20:15:00.000-07:002008-10-30T20:38:30.180-07:00This one's for my scrapbooking Peeps!<div id="ms__id13">I started <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">scrapbooking</span> about 7 years ago. I had no idea what I was doing, so I went to the Hobby Lobby and bought a scrapbook magazine. I found a layout I liked and went to the scrapbook store in search of the EXACT same things I saw in the magazine on this layout. It was a bath time layout. Once I found the paper and stickers I needed I searched for pictures. My oldest, who was also my only child at the time, was still relatively young. We took a million pictures of him in the tub, so finding bath time pictures was not difficult. I sat on my bed with the magazine flipped open to the correct page, I carefully placed all of the paper and sticker around on the bed. I picked up my first picture and my scissors and cut a circle, just as they had done in the magazine. The only problem was the circle was all jagged and looked like a preschooler had cut it out. I could not figure out how the ladies in the magazine cut such a perfectly round circle. It took me several weeks, if not months, to realize there are circle cutters. So, my first page was no where near perfect, but I liked it anyway. This sparked a huge desire within me to scrapbook. </div><div id="ms__id14"></div><div id="ms__id15">Fast forward 7 years and another child later and I am stuck. I have so many scrapbooks I can't look through them anymore. I can't even store them nicely. And now I've come to the place that a lot of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">scrapbookers</span> come to. How do I separate my albums? I was doing one album for my son, one for my daughter and a family album. I felt like I was always behind and I found myself scrapping the same pictures two or three times. It was very draining. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Scrapbooking</span> was no longer fun to me. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Every time</span> I'd get with people who scrapbook I'd ask them how they arrange their albums. I quickly realized I wasn't alone. Lots of people had the same problem I had.</div><div id="ms__id26"></div><div id="ms__id24">Then, one Friday night in October...my whole life changed. I was talking with my friend Sara and I asked her the question, "How do you arrange your albums?" That's when I learned about Photo Freedom and Stacey Julian. Sara gave me just enough information about Stacey Julian's system to make me run right out and buy her book Photo Freedom. The basic concept is you don't have to scrapbook in chronological order. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ok</span>, take a deep breath, I know this is hard to swallow. Also, she doesn't do books for her kids, she does books for herself! What a concept. She has her <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">scrapbooking</span> broken down into four main <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">categories</span>...People, Places, Things and Us. Most of her pages will fit into one of the four of these albums. She is not "caught up" and she does not scrapbook in order. She picks up the pictures she feels motivated to scrap and away she goes. It might be a birthday from 4 years ago. It doesn't matter! Once the page is done it goes into the appropriate album and you move on.</div><div id="ms__id25"></div><div id="ms__id21">She also has these things called <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">category</span> drawers. It basically stores all of the extra pictures. You know how you took 400 pictures last Christmas and you tried to cram ALL of them on your two page spread? Well, you can stop doing that now. Find the best ones that really represent Christmas and scrap them on the Christmas page. Then store the others in your <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">category</span> drawers. Maybe one goes in the tab just for a specific child. Maybe another one goes into the tab specified for me and Mom. Then, one day down the road, you flip through the drawer and find several pictures of the same thing, probably not taken on the same day, and you scrap a page that represents what's going on in those pictures. It's pure Genius!</div><div id="ms__id22"></div><div id="ms__id23">Are you lost yet? Here's an example. We carved pumpkins tonight and my husband, God bless him, was sitting at the table all alone carving the last pumpkin. This happens every single year. Bryce could care less! Hannah has a short attention span. And I go out and start taking pictures of the ones we've already carved. So, I took a picture of him. I know that I have several pictures of him, all alone, carving the last pumpkin from several different years. So, when I feel <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">motivated</span> to scrap those pictures I'll be able to tell a story with bits and pieces from several different years. And the best part is, I don't have to scrap it tomorrow, I can wait until July of next year if I want. Then I just put it into the appropriate album and move on.</div><div id="ms__id17"></div><div id="ms__id16"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SQp4tfvjj-I/AAAAAAAAAKE/pnrkdrONeto/s1600-h/scrapbooks.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263151837546254306" style="WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SQp4tfvjj-I/AAAAAAAAAKE/pnrkdrONeto/s320/scrapbooks.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div id="ms__id19"></div><div id="ms__id20">These are my new albums. Aren't they lovely? Each of them will be given a specific task of People, Places, Things or Us. Once I assign a colored album a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">category</span> that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">category</span> will always be that color. So if I fill a green album and it's assigned People, the next People page I scrap will go into a new, green album. It's a lot of fun organizing all of the pictures I have, pictures I thought I'd never scrapbook. Now I'm giving them life again. Even if they sit in a drawer for four years, I know I will eventually get to them and it's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">ok</span>! So now, go out and buy her book. You won't regret it!<br /></div><div id="ms__id18"> </div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-14714749652069342562008-10-28T06:39:00.000-07:002008-10-28T06:58:09.634-07:00Weekend Review<div id="ms__id51"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SQcXrc0g5sI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/Lozo4zCmh8k/s1600-h/IMG_3290.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262200724843980482" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SQcXrc0g5sI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/Lozo4zCmh8k/s320/IMG_3290.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div id="ms__id52"><br /></div><div id="ms__id49">What a great weekend we had! The weather was pretty decent, no snow...yippee! Although the flakes were flying yesterday. But we're not going to talk about snow until <em>AFTER</em> Halloween. Friday my hubby was off work. It's nice to have him home. Hannah had preschool, so it was extra nice having him home in the afternoon. It's very rare that either one of us is home and the kids aren't. It's even more rare that we are both home with no kids. The house seems to smell better and it stays clean for more than 5 minutes....I love my kids, but I like an empty house every once in awhile.</div><br />Bryce's final flag football game was scheduled for Friday night, under the lights, but it had rained in the morning so it was rescheduled for Saturday. A free Friday night, yes....um, no. He went to hockey practice instead. I love watching him skate. He's getting so good! While all the other kids are dropping like flies around him he's the one skating circles around everyone. I cannot believe how far he's come in such a short amount of time. I'll have to remember my camera for the next practice.<br /><br /><div id="ms__id53">Saturday morning the boys went to pick up cans for the Boy Scout troop. They also got haircuts. Thank goodness. They were looking pretty shabby! They went to Sports Clips which is a salon for dudes. They got massaged and a hot towel on their face. I think my men are getting a little too girly...tee hee. So then Saturday night we had the final flag football game. Bryce scored two of the three touchdowns. One was off of an interception! That boy's got some skills. I was so proud of him. Several parents, the coach included, told us how great he was and how much natural skill he has. I know he's only 7, but I think they are right. He's excelling in hockey too, he's just a natural. He must get that from his mommy ;) His team ended up taking first place. He got his first trophy. He is so proud of it and so am I!</div><br /><div id="ms__id56">Sunday was church. Man oh man did we have a great sermon. The pastor finished his sermon with tears in his eyes. My pastor is a national figure, which sometimes bothers me a bit. I guess it's human nature to think maybe he's not living the life he preaches. Sunday proved to me once again he is exactly the man you see every Sunday. He made me realize that I have a lot of resentment built up inside that I carry around like a baby. His philosophy is to punt kick those babies out of your life! Good idea Pastor Mark! If you've been wronged or hurt by someone and you are carrying around resentment or you're still bitter, forgive them and move on. I guarantee your life will prosper from it. And, it's something Jesus told us to do...so do it! Your life will change. He also made me realize I haven't had my nose in the bible lately, so I'm going to try much harder this week to read a bit everyday.</div><div id="ms__id75"> </div><div id="ms__id65"></div><div id="ms__id66"></div><div id="ms__id55"></div><div id="ms__id54">Have a great week everyone. If you scrapbook and you're ready to change the way you scrapbook, check back later. I'm going to highlight a book by Stacy Julian called Photo Freedom. It's changed the way I look at scrapbooking...I feel so free!!!! ;)</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-23294027163269748422008-10-20T14:28:00.000-07:002008-10-20T16:42:25.170-07:00Too cute hats for sale ;)<div id="ms__id20"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SPz6BA_JYRI/AAAAAAAAAIU/dNBDeZp8pLY/s1600-h/DSC04764.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259353360213565714" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SPz6BA_JYRI/AAAAAAAAAIU/dNBDeZp8pLY/s320/DSC04764.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div id="ms__id21"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SPz6B2w98uI/AAAAAAAAAIc/qNPwPJVboyU/s1600-h/DSC04765.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259353374649610978" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SPz6B2w98uI/AAAAAAAAAIc/qNPwPJVboyU/s320/DSC04765.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div id="ms__id23">I have this terrible habit of getting totally involved in crafts I have no idea how to make. These hats are a prime example of that. I found them at a craft show and thought, "<em>I can make that</em>!" So I went looking for cheap fleece and then worried about <em>how</em> I was going to make them. I finally had some time today and pulled everything out to make the hat. Oh, by the way, I don't know how to sew and these hats require sewing. I had all of my stuff out on my island and started cutting. Then I sat down at the sewing machine. I had no idea what to do. So I called my husband. It's weird he knows how to sew and I don't, I realize this. He tried to walk me through threading the machine but it only got me more confused. I found a good illustration in the instruction book and gave it a shot. It worked! The thread came out three times and I successfully fixed it each time. So, this hat is my finished product. I started with the least attractive fleece I had just <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">in case</span> it didn't turn out so well. The light coming through the front door was awesome and I wanted to try some new techniques I learned for my camera so I asked Hannah to model for me. She was less than thrilled! I, however, am tickled at how well the pictures came out. By the way, I plan on selling the hats on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Etsy</span> for around $4 or $5. Let me know if you'd like one! wink wink</div><div id="ms__id22"></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-52750006932245173932008-10-17T11:23:00.000-07:002008-10-17T11:33:58.772-07:00Would you if you could?<div id="ms__id31"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">If you could, would you hit the rewind button on your life? Not so you could change to be better in your current life, but so that you could be something completely different than you are today? If you had the chance to go back pre-husband, pre-kids, maybe even pre-college, would you? I’m sure the knee-jerk response from all of us would be an emphatic YES!!! But stop and really think about it for a minute…no husband, no kids, a possible shift in career. How different would your life look to you? I can remember when I was in high school wishing for the “perfect life”. Here I am, about to turn 35 and I have a different perspective. That “perfect life” I wished for way back when has become my reality. Guess what? It ain’t so perfect! It is, however, exactly what I wanted. I wanted to be married, check, have kids, check, and stay home with them, check! Mission accomplished…sort of. What I don’t recall wishing for was rocky times throughout my marriage(s) including divorce and a second husband, children who are rude, disrespectful, stinky and apparently allergic to picking up their toys, and the ability to never watch my favorite TV show from start to finish without hearing “MOM!” yelled from someone’s bedroom. Ahhhh, ain’t life grand!<br /><br />Last Sunday the family and I pulled into our favorite restaurant in Green Bay for lunch after church. I happened to notice a cute couple preparing to board their motorcycle and ride off into the sunset…no children in toe. Then I realized I knew the female part of this cute couple. I hadn’t seen her in well over a year. Last I heard she had filed for divorce and moved out with her child. I guess I assumed she would never date again because I was <em>shocked</em> to see her with another man! As they zoomed past me I made two realizations; one, that was indeed my friend and two, man was I jealous! Here she was with her beau on a Sunday afternoon, having a quiet lunch (<em>read, no loud children</em>) then riding off into the sunset holding tightly to the man she loves. I was quickly snapped back into reality when I heard, “Wow, you have a lot of hot friends getting divorced.” What?! Ok, whatever.<br /><br />Fast forward one hour. We’re sitting in the bar so we can watch the Packer game and my husband says to me, “That’s one thing I miss about being single.” To which I replied lovingly, “What’s that dear?” “I miss sitting in the bar screaming at the TV when the game is on.” I thought for a minute and said, “Sitting in the bar screaming at the TV with your wife and children just doesn’t do it for ya, huh?” Then we heard this shrill scream from across the bar. Every head in the place turned towards this hideous noise. Then I saw this woman with both of her arms in the air, one hand tightly holding her Bud Light, screaming loudly at the TV watching the game. “Oh yeah, I sure miss those days,” I said to my wonderful hubby. We both rolled our eyes and giggled. Guess it wasn’t as much fun as he remembered.<br /><br />So, it got me thinking, would I go back in time and rewind what I have done to be a totally different person today? Never in a million years. I am working on a new scrap booking process called Library of Memories by Stacey Julian (I’ll post more about that another day) and so I was flipping through old pictures of my son last night. One photo in particular just struck me. He was probably around 2 ½. He was sitting in the car in his seat and he seemed to be looking right at me, into my soul. I began to cry a little bit. How could I ever go back to a life without my husband or children in it? Do they drive me crazy daily? Absolutely! Do they make me want to pull my hair out? Every single day. Do I love them? More than words can express!! So, even though I’m still jealous that my friend has Sundays with her man and their motorcycle without children I love my life and the people in it. There will be no rewinding for me.</span></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-38661416061657101652008-10-06T10:57:00.001-07:002008-10-06T11:11:54.142-07:00Apple Bread<div id="ms__id11"></div><div id="ms__id14"></div><div id="ms__id13"></div><div id="ms__id12"></div><p>Apples have been taking up space on my kitchen counter for far too long. I remembered finding this recipe on a website I frequent called <em>2peas in a bucket. </em>The recipe comes from someone who posts on that site. She has said that this recipe is so well liked she renamed it "Done to death apple pie" because she has made it so many times. This was only my second time making the bread but I'm sure I'll be making more in the future. It's a very simple recipe and it helped to deplete my apple stash by 6 apples! Only 4,390,980 to go!</p><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SOpSDo42UNI/AAAAAAAAAHk/c2sfpU8qJ8E/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254102137750048978" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SOpSDo42UNI/AAAAAAAAAHk/c2sfpU8qJ8E/s320/1.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><strong>Apple Bread</strong></span></p><p>Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Make sure to generously grease the pans/tins you are using.</p><p>Mix Together:</p><p>3 eggs, slightly beaten</p><p>2C. sugar</p><p>1C. vegetable oil</p><p>1T. vanilla</p><p>Add and mix well:</p><p>3C. flour (I usually use 2c. all-purpose and 1c. whole wheat flour)</p><p>1t. baking soda</p><p>1t. ground cinnamon</p><p>Add and mix well:</p><p>4C. peeled and chopped apples</p><p>1C. chopped pecans (optional)</p><p>The mixture will be very <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">goopy</span>. I use my Kitchen Aid to mix it all together and that seems to work wonderfully! This recipe will make two large loaves of bread. I made one loaf and 6 mega muffins. I think it would be fun to make several small loaves and then freeze it. I have not tried to freeze this recipe, but the word is that it freezes beautifully!</p><p></p><p>Enjoy!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SOpSFl3DCII/AAAAAAAAAHs/IMwO4PKdueg/s1600-h/DSC04499.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254102171296925826" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o2nJR8bp4QA/SOpSFl3DCII/AAAAAAAAAHs/IMwO4PKdueg/s320/DSC04499.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div id="ms__id10"></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186024401833096927.post-55386585593614519302008-10-03T12:26:00.000-07:002008-10-03T12:44:06.701-07:00Ho-hum<div id="ms__id26">My mind is going a million miles a minute today. I'm amazed I've accomplished anything at all. Well, technically, what I have accomplished doesn't amount to much. The rummage sale boxes that have been sitting in my bedroom are now in the basement, the dust bunnies are gone and my youngest child made it to school on time. That's about it. So much has been running through my mind and I don't know why. I've been thinking about health, food, healthy food or lack thereof, exercise, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">scrapbooking</span>, photography, crazy schedules, birthday parties, TV shows, the upcoming election, building a new house, builders, selling the current house, family, my car, my husband, my children, what's for supper?, why am I craving Mt. Dew all of a sudden, do I really like the new quilt on the bed?, what if we don't have enough people to play <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bunko</span>?, why did I agree to host <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">bunko</span> with all the things we have going on?, why do we have so much going on....honestly, the list goes on. Oh, and on top of all of that, I thought it would be fun to work for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ChaCha</span>. Don't know who that is? Check it out here. <a href="http://www.chacha.com/">www.chacha.com</a> It looks like fun, but it's yet one more thing to add to my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">never ending</span> list of things that don't seem to get done. Ugh! My head hurts today. </div><div id="ms__id27"> </div><div id="ms__id28">So, in the spirit of trying to clear my head I thought I'd steal something I read on another blog today. I'd love to hear your answers. Finding my own answers caused me to do some thinking, but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">at least</span> it was streamline thinking and not spaghetti noodle thinking....cause that's driving me crazy!</div><div id="ms__id29"> </div><div id="ms__id30"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">1. In Citizen Kane, the main character's last words before dying were "Rosebud" which is discovered later to be the name of a favorite, childhood sled. The idea is that this rich, powerful, hated man, in his last moments, finds himself thinking of happy, innocent times. If the film were about your life, what word might you utter in similar sentiment?</span></div><div id="ms__id31"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span> </div><div id="ms__id32"><em>GRANDMA...although I'm not 100% sure why. I guess, thinking back to my childhood, I had the most fun with my Grandma and I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">regret</span> not spending more time with her while she was dying.</em></div><div id="ms__id34"> </div><div id="ms__id33"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">2. In Freaky Friday, a mother and her daughter who have difficulty understanding <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">each other</span> find themselves living the other's life (occupying the other's body and everything). If this were to happen to you for similar reasons, who's body would you wake up in?</span></div><div id="ms__id35"> </div><div id="ms__id36"><em>MY HUSBAND...although we love each other very much and agree on several subjects, we have a very hard time communicating with each other. Even when we're thinking the same thing, we verbalize it differently and the other person is usually left feeling like there is a disagreement happening, even when we fully agree with each other.</em></div><div id="ms__id38"><em></em> </div><div id="ms__id37"><span style="color:#993399;">3. In Raider's of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones has to jump into a pit full of snakes, the one thing that freaks him out the most. "Why did it have to be snakes?" he asks. If the movie were about you, what would be at the bottom of the pit?</span></div><div id="ms__id39"> </div><div id="ms__id40"><em>SCORPIONS...DEFINITELY SCORPIONS. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">EWWWW</span>, that's all I have to say about that.</em></div><div id="ms__id42"><em></em> </div><div id="ms__id41"><span style="color:#993399;">4. In Parenthood, the main character explain to her husband that she loves the ups and down of family life, she finds it exhilarating and says, "I happen to love the roller coaster!" Do you love the roller coaster or would you rather ride the merry go round?</span></div><div id="ms__id43"> </div><div id="ms__id44"><em>MERRY GO ROUND for sure. However, life is more like the roller coaster...</em></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485036592755199960noreply@blogger.com0