Jenny's Journey

I have to start off this blog post giving props to my husband. That man is one determined individual. He puts his mind to something and he doesn’t stop. He also is very competitive, unlike myself. I like to compete against myself, try and do better than I did last time. Last year after I completed the Climb for Air he said he would “kick my ass” – so, what did I do? Yup! I signed his butt up for this year’s climb! Knowing he couldn’t go into the climb without any prep that boy took up running. Gotta work on that cardio. And guess what? He likes it! He likes running! Anyways, to make a long story short…he did beat me. I wouldn’t say he “kicked my ass.” But he did beat me by 2 seconds. 11:20 vs 11:22 Yes, TWO fricking lousy seconds. I should have pushed myself even harder but I was already pushing my way through all those stairs as hard as I could. I know he was excited to beat me, but he didn’t rub it in. (Though I know what he is telling all his buddies!) I can alwa...

Yup, I am gonna brag.  Whether its bragging worthy, I don't really care cause to me it is!  As all of my followers already know(because I texted you) I did my first 5K on Sunday, Mothers Day.  It is a yearly race that happens every year on Mothers Day(in numerous locations throughout the USA) and it is called Run Like A Mother 5K.  It was pretty neat because the run occurred over at Hoyt Park/Menomonee River Parkway/Oak Leaf Trail - where I hung out a ton as a kid, so it was really nice to be back. I picked up running last summer/fall and I really am enjoying it.  It is 40 min of "me time."  And funny thing is none of my kids ask to tag along or help or anything (even though I can see Jadyn doing track and cross country in her future).  Well, running a 5K was on my bucket list and Emmy at work told me about this very run.  It brings in all types of runners and ages and abilities. Perfect.  Plus the route is pretty easy (no hills!)...

  June 1, 2002 It is hard to believe that James and I are celebrating our 10 year anniversary.  It’s amazing how fast the time has gone and we both agree that its been a good time had by both.  We are proud of these last 10 years (15 if you count the years we dated) and think we have made a pretty nice life for the 2 (or 4) of us.  We have had our share of ups and downs but we agreed that 90% of these last 10 years has been very enjoyable. We have been through a lot together, and I was looking thru old photos to add them to this post but I had a hard time narrowing the pictures down.  We have experienced so much together.  College graduation, building our house, vacations, the births of our 2 beautiful daughters – the list could go on and on.  We have fun together, laugh alot together (mostly at me) and don't take life to seriously.   So Happy Anniversary to my husband. I have had a wonderful time with you these past 10 y...

   I have to say that sugar scrubs are my newest favorite thing!  I got one from Bath and Body Works at Christmas time from my Godson, Jake. I also got a Burts Bee’s sugar scrub from St. Nick this year!  I LOVE them so much I started making my own once the other ones ran out!  I already had the oil and essential oils from a previous essential oil phase I went through(believe me I still love essential oils, but I am not so into making my own shampoos and stuff right now).  You need a small plastic container to store the scrub once its made. I suggest plastic, because you will be using this in the bath room and it can get slippery and the last thing you would want is glass shards everywhere and a bare body and toes! I really never measure the stuff before but I suggest the following: Mix equal parts Sweet Almond Oil (any oil…even olive oil works but I not fond of the smell.) Almond oil is lighter and absorbs fast ) and regular everyday sugar.  Mix we...

That's me alright! I am not kidding you when I tell you I bowled a 200 game last nite!  Seriously!  My series still sucked...405...only because my first game was a 98 and my 3rd  game was a 107!  I blame the good and bad games on work and beer.  1st...I had worked that day....I was tired, stressed...not relaxed ...rushing.  Started drinking some beer and by the 2nd game I was in a zone...relaxed....doing well...beer tasted good!  The 3rd game...I am not so sure...but I was not able to keep it in the zone.  The beer was wearing off or I didn't have any more beer to drink.....or I drank too much beer!  (its pretty much the 1st 2 ones...)  Whatever it is...I was very pleased with my surprising 200 game!  That is 2  - 200 games this year!  Sweet!

I like many, have become addicted to this new site.  I am becoming a crafty crafterson!  Getting ideas and inspiration from the many great ideas people in this world are sharing with us all.  Food too, lots of yummy looking pictures and recipes.  Made the enchilada pasta, that Becky posted awhile back about.  It was delish…leftovers were too.  (something I don’t always like!)  Made the snowflake wreath, once again from Becky.  I have plans to do a family handprint and a snowman handprint ornament sometime soon.  I like the fact that you can pin these ideas to different boards.  For example a ‘Christmas’  board is where I pin all the Christmas ideas I like and then sometime in 2012…probably November…I can view these ideas and see if I want to make any of these things I had once pinned.  Like the starlight mint plates or starlight mint wreath.  It makes my life a little bit more organized in a way I guess, because instead of...

Yes, I liked Becky's snowflake wreath and I felt compelled to make one of my own.  Its a little different, but I like how it turned out!  Am I becoming crafty in 2012?!?!?  I kinda feel like my Aunt Frannie...for those who know who I am talking about....please please please let me know if my house starts to smell like moth balls!!!

As of this upcoming Saturday we are taking our 1st official vacation as a family.  This will be the first time ever that James and I have taken the girls on an extended vacation from home.  We have done, 2 days max with them...that been it.  Just the 4 of us! It should be a blast, as long as the weather behaves! On Saturday we are driving 5 hours north, to Lac du Flambeau Wisconsin.  We will be only 15 minutes from the resort area of Minocqua and Woodruff, Wisconsin.  Right now the only thing that worries me a bit is the 5 hour drive.  That is along time for anyone to drive, let alone little kids stuck in car seats!  We plan on making stops, one most definitely being McDonalds, with a playland to let them use up some energy!!! The place we are staying at is:  http://www.timberbayresort.com/  and we are staying in the smallest cabin the Cedarwood.  It looks nice, way nicer than some I had seen while scoping out a place to stay!!...

Its been a long time, but since my computer has been giving me some major problems I really didnt feel like doing much computing other than checking my email every so often.  After speaking with BTGS (Better Than Geek Squad - aka my brothers)  it was thought that I was due for a new computer anyways.  Jeff did a little searching for a new laptop and I finally have it to use!  I even went wireless baby!  OMG!  I am soooo with it.  So, here I sit...on the couch laptop on my lap (no really?!?!?) and James is watching Wild Justice(???) on the tv....and LIFE IS GOOD.  Oh and we also did the annual Breakfast with Santa at the Pfister hotel this morning.  It was very nice as always!  Jenna did NOT like Santa...but I do recall Jadyn at the same age freaking out as well!  Afterward we all headed over to Jim and Nicole's for Brooke's 12th Birthday Party!!  (That is where I picked up my new laptop!

Saturday - October 10, 2010  Team Jenna The one we stride for....Jenna Wow, we could not have asked for a better day! 100x better then last years weather!  Made the 5 mile walk much more bearable! This year Team Jenna consisted of Jenna, Jadyn, James, my Mom, Shelly, Jake, Joyce, Kim and myself. (Becky and Jim were part of our team but something came up last minute) As a team we raised $1080.00 for CHW!  Its a bit down from last year, but we had a few less people on our team, plus I noticed (others did too) that many people donated less this year. (I wonder why!?!?) We made our usual stop at Dunkin' Donuts along the way....and I am sad to say that in doing so we once again were being chased by the street sweepers and cop cars!  Next year I think we will need to bring donuts with us!  We were done around 1230/1245 and let the girls play at the playground for awhile (which was nice cause there were barely any kids there!) After leaving...

James and I left the girls with my Mom on Saturday(she took them to Joel's 17th birthday party) and kept them overnite.  We toured the state.  We drove across the state to Hwy 35 the Great River Road, along the Mississippi.  Well, now I can say I have seen the Mississippi....  We hit Perrot State Park in Trempealou and hiked for about 1 1/2 hours before hitting the road again.  The views were great atop the bluffs..overlooking the Mississippi..and the hiking was actually pretty hard both going up and going down.  We got up to the farmhouse at around 530...just enough time for James to go out and hunt...imagine that! After he returned, we had a late dinner at some supperclub and hit 2 bars til about 130.  The bed upnorth SUCKS....so I slept sucky. I am tired.  And guess where he is now.  He was too tired to get up in the morning to hunt...I made the bed too cozey he said. (it was damn cold up there.....very very heavy frost!) So now ...

I was off of work the last 4 days...and really enjoyed my time too! On Thursday I spent the entire day with my Mom in the Brookfield area...shopping, lunch (at Stir Fry)...etc.  Thanks Mom...I had a really nice day with you! Friday my Mom came over again and she planned on painting my dining room, but instead decided on Kohls, Menards, lunch at PineCone and then home to do some yard work.  My Mom bought us a burning bush for our yard for our Anniversary(because I had wanted one) and they were on sale at Steins....and the weather has been great lately for planting.  Oh, and yes....Jadyn was in school both days and yes I sent Jenna to school both days as well.  Saturday, all of us(the 4J's) took a ride to Madison for the Farmers Market.  We got caught in a bit of Badger traffic, but overall we got there with out much trouble.  Found a great parking space.  We purchased fingerling potatoes, a dozen ears of corn, Zestar apples (1/2 peck), Salsa Verde...

When I got home from work on Friday, I was completely surprised to see flowers in a box on my porch...couldn't imagine who they would be from!  They were from Jacob, my godson!  How nice. I made sure I called and thanked him!! They are gorgeous!  For my birthday we went to La Merenda for dinner (a tapas restaurant). We had been there before 2 years ago for our anniversary and enjoyed it so we decided to go back.(which is kinda against our date nite rules!!!)  I broke the rules when I took the picture of the two of us above, because it was at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts before the musical Wicked!  Got yelled at...but whatever! We had great seats, Row N Seats 9/10.  It was a great performance.   Interesting story of the witches before Dorothy came to OZ!  Saturday, my entire family 14 of us in all, went to the Brewers game.  We tailgated and had seats in Section 222.  It was awesome because the first h...

My 11 day vacation started today, Friday July 9th.  James didn't have to work either, so he had a wonderful idea to go up to Green Bay to the Bay Beach Amusement Park!  We all really enjoyed the time together! Jadyn and I went on the Ferris Wheel and Tilt a Whirl together and she also went on the Tilt a Whirl with Daddy !  She loves spinney type rides!  Fast ones too!    We even brought the girls swimsuits along (though we did not put Jenna's on her and her diaper swelled up because of that!!! I think it weighed more then she does!!!) Jenna really liked the water! James thought Jenna was feeling a bit left out because she so desperately wanted to go on a ride that James was putting Jadyn into, so we gave in and let Jenna try out a few rides!  She did great.  Only one she could not go on because she would not sit! Of course we took a train ride!  We had packed bags along in case we decided to get a hot...

Another year of fun was had by all this past Saturday at the Jimmy Buffett Concert at Alpine Valley.  Unlike the weather last year, this time it was hot!!  I am not complaining at all!  Drinks went down even better!   I was able to keep a nice steady buzz about the whole time and actually fell asleep for most of the ride home!  Something I don't like to do.  One of the best things to do at Buffett is to walk around and  people watch !  We were not let down.  It was definitely interesting!   He played the fan favorites of course, mine being, Come Monday.  I mentioned to James that the $9 beers looked good, he agreed so by the end of the concert we had shared 2!  Something else of a rarity for me!  Not the sharing part, the saying beer looks good and paying $18 for 2 beers!!! In attendance was Stephanie, Amy, Melissa, Derek, James and myself.  James and Derek both did a 4 person beer bong, where you had a ...

I am sooo excited!  Today I purchased 2 tickets for James and I to see Wicked on my birthday Friday August 6th!  I had wanted to see this musical so bad when it was in Chicago but for numerous reasons, it never worked out!  The tickets dont officially go on sale until Saturday but I used a special promo code and got my tickets today.   Sure it cost me a bit more( alot more ) then I would ever spend on a birthday (especially my 32nd one) but this is something special!  Originally since my b-day is on a Friday(and I dont work the weekend), I planned on going out and getting drunk or something, but hey I can do that anytime...right!?!?!  So instead we will have a nice dinner somewhere (if it was perfect...outdoor dining - another thing I like to do but rarely ever do) and then go to the musical! 

Early Sunday morning we packed up the kids, stopped and got Subway for lunch and headed off to the zoo!  Believe it or not James has not been to the zoo in over 15 years!  He has never went with us before!  I picked up the zoo pass at work for free parking and admission on Friday.  My place of employment does work on all animal cultures free of charge(community service) for the Milwaukee County Zoo and the use of the zoo pass is one benefit!   Black Bear Not only was it a beautiful day weather wise, but also the animals were out and about active and having fun!  Of all the times that I have been to the zoo, this time was the best that I can remember!  I got a ton of really nice pictures of the animals too!  Polar Bear African Elephants Playful Grizzly Bears (all 4 were out!) Stinky Cows!! Jadyn hates any icky smells! Cute lil' prarie dogs. We ended up being at the zoo from 10  - 3!  And everyone enjoyed themselves!  I ...