Season's Greetings

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. We are going to try to get back "into the swing" of things this week....

I will get some pictures posted of Christmas soon!
HUGS!

Merry Christmas!

For sale!

My brother's artwork
Hey Diddle Diddle

Pearl Harbor Day

This is such a beautiful monument/memorial.

Thank you to all our veterans!

Please hurry!

Yes, this is me graveling.....
I am looking for more 'votes' for my photo(s). Please visit Jen's Midwest Living Photos

I would VERY much appreciate it!
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Madison County, Iowa

April, 2009

Hey scrapbookers...

Next weekend, I'm going to have an "on line crop" on my scrapping blog.

CHALLENGE U 2

I hope you'll stop by for scrapping challenges and fun.

Another blog

Yes, it's a shameless self promotion. I hope you'll check out our new blog: INSANE TRAVELERS

I am planning on keeping up with it better than I have been, so I hope you'll "follow" it and stop by often.

Thank you!

Monday gratitudes

Seeing how Thanksgiving is coming....I thought I would share what I am thankful for.

My family and friends
Food on our table
That I have 2 great jobs
We are all healthy
That I had a little time to spend with my family this weekend

May you all find something or someone to be thankful for!
HUGS!

#12

November, 2007 - Hawaii

Happy Anniversary, honey!

I love you!

CMA Awards

I only got to see the last 45 minutes of it on Wednesday night but I got to see my Kenny! :D

AND he performed "I'm Alive" with Dave Matthews - I think that seriously may be my favorite Kenny Chesney song ever!!!! Talk about "speaking to me".

If you want to see the performance, here you go. KENNY & DAVE

And that beautiful blue shirt with those gorgeous blue eyes of his - OH MAN!!!!!! I was almost drooling. (DH just shakes his head)

Congrats to all the winners AND nominees on Wednesday night - your work is appreciated.

Friday fun

The Zen of Sarcasm


01. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not
walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside
me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.

02. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken
fan belt and leaky tire.

03. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're
going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the
time to do it.

04. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be
replaced, you can't be promoted.

05. Always remember that you're unique. Just like
everyone else.

06. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

07. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try
missing a couple of car payments.

08. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in
their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a
mile away and you have their shoes.

09. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is
probably not for you.

10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him
how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all
day.

11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person
again, it was probably a wise investment.

12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember
anything.

13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the
windshield.

14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in
half and put it back in your pocket.

16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

17. Duct tape is like 'The Force'.. It has a light
side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither
one works.

19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when
your lips are moving.

20. Experience is something you don't get until just
after you need it.

21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

AND

22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill
and a laxative on the same night.

Thank you!

Happy Veteran's Day to all of those who have or are serving in our armed services.
We appreciate ALL you do and/or have done!!!!!

God bless!

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!

We all seem to be on the mend. The house has been super sanitized and there really shouldn't be any more germs lurking about.... I hope everyone is doing well.

If you have a chance, you should check out my brother's blog: Phil's Blog I wish I had the talent in his pinky finger.

Have a SUPER week!

I am sick of sickness!

I am tired of listening to coughing and groaning about not feeling good. I just want everyone to feel better!!!!!!!!!!!!
UGH!!!!

You find out who your friends are

When life isn't roses....you find out who your true friends are!
Thank you to all who have stuck by this year.
HUGS!!!!!

Happy Halloween!

Enjoy your Halloween weekend! :D

Mosaic fun

Created using Flickr tools - theme....Illinois.

The kindness of strangers!

You know, when you have a week where you are fed up with people - they say and do stupid things? Yeah, it was one of those weeks....

I got a flat tire on Thursday at work (of course it was a rainy day!) so I carefully drove to the gas station to put air in it to make it home. While I was TRYING to put air in it (unsuccessfully) - a man asked if I wanted some help. So he showed this 'dumb girl' how to put it in (note to self....hold the lever). I told him I guess dumb girls shouldn't be allowed to do that. And he said, "That's not true. Everyone just needs to be shown how to do this kind of thing." Thank you Stranger #1!

So I made it home and when I pulled in the garage I could hear it hissing - great... DH wasn't home, of course...oh well, so I sent DS across the street to get the neighbor to help me change it. So Neighbor and DS changed it while I called the library to say I might be a little late. Thank you, Neighbor J!

I took the tire to have it fixed yesterday. They were very nice and sealed it up, put the spare away and had me ready to go in 1/2 hour. NO CHARGE!!!!!!! I almost fell over. Thank you Stranger #2!

So just as I was about to give up on the intelligence and kindness of people - there were 3 in 24 hours who proved how wrong I was -- and not to give up on them because good things happen when you least expect it!

Remember when?

I got this in an e-mail a few weeks ago and LOVED it! I hope you enjoy it too.

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.
As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.
Riding in the back of a pick-up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight. WHY? Because we were always outside playing...that's why! We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps And then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's or X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms.
WE HAD FRIENDS! And we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.
If YOU are one of them - CONGRATULATIONS!

Wordless Wednesday

October 18, 2009

Additional blog

Hey there!
Just an FYI - our family started a new blog. If you want to check it out, it's:
INSANE TRAVELERS

We'd love to have you "follow" us. :)

Happy Travels!

Pictures!

APPLE PICKING WITH AUNT A

Apple Slingshot

HOMECOMING WEEK

Dress Like your Grandparent Day (Grandpa L likes to country dance)Crazy Day

Off to the dance!

Happy Saturday

Hope you all had a good week - I know I've been a bad blogger.

Another busy week here. We had a company overnight outing for all the ladies who have the same job as me to Galena overnight. It was nice - we did a little shopping, eating and enjoyed the good company. Yesterday, our office took a "field trip" to some of our clients' farms. It was a very interesting day (too bad the weather wasn't a little nicer....)

I'll post some pictures (hopefully by the end of the weekend) of apple picking, DS's homecoming week outfits and our outings. Have a great rest of the weekend!

Monday gratitudes

My family
My friends
A beautiful day to go apple picking
My job
Wonderful music
A good book

Well it's almost over....

The Cubs have their last game today. It's not been the "happy ending" I had hoped for, BUT - there's always next year. :D

Been a nuts-o week last week. Work was SUPER busy and by Wednesday, I was dragging you-know-what! Hopefully (it should be) a quieter week - 3 "play days" - I think I can handle it...

Not much else is new - it's just been lots o' work this week. Off to the orchard to meet my sister and some of her friends today.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Greetings - catch up time

Hello! Just to let you know - FIL's surgery went well. He was home the same night. Surgery #2 is October 15.

I went to a crop a week ago last Friday and I got 10 - yes, 10 - layouts done in the 6 hours I was there. That HAS to be a record for me.... It was nice to get to get some scrapping done.

Last Sunday, we went to Effigy Mounds National Monument. It was a GORGEOUS day and the park was very pretty! The hike we took was partially along the Mississippi River - wonderful view!!!!! The kids had fun and seemed to enjoy it.

Then, in my DH's "wisdom" (are you detecting the sarcasm?!) he thought I would enjoy the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Burr Oak. OMG - that was a waste of time. We were very disappointed in our "tour" and the museum. The highlight of that stop was seeing a bald eagle on our way out of town. So - my recommendation is, don't go out of your way for that stop.

It was a long, stressful week at work. I was SO happy to see Friday come!!!!!!

Ballet week #2 was today for DD. She loves it and thinks she is the world's greatest dancer. Those little girls are all adorable.

DS hasn't decided if he wants to take a date to homecoming. I have reminded him it's just a couple of weeks away and that decision needs to be made - SOON!!!!!!!!!! So, we'll see what happens with that. (this is him trying to show us his "buff edge" last Sunday)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Hi!

I am still around...just been busy.
I will update this coming weekend.
Please keep my FIL in your thoughts today - he is having surgery.

Have a great week!

Hey scrapbookers...

I'm running challenges on my other blog: CHALLENGE U 2

I hope you'll come on over and join in! :)

Remember

J & M, part 2

These are some of the edited pictures of my brother & future sister-in-law.

July sunset

July sunset
Originally uploaded by scrapperjen1

Happy 9/9/09 day....

This picture really does not do the sunset that I saw that evening justice - the sky absolutely glowed red and orange! It was SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!

Infinity Room

June, 2007

House on the Rock

Back to school!

We have survived the last week! WHOO HOOOO!!!!!



Yes, this is DS's way of "showing me" that this is "what I get" for wanting to take his picture on the 1st day of school. He is too cool for that now, you know. whatever.... So he informs when - on the way to school on Wednesday - that he keeps an extra sweatshirt in his locker so that if one of the girls says they're cold, he can have it for them. OMG!!!!! Sometimes.... I just shake my head. And of course, DH just says "At least he's prepared" OY!!!!!


And Miss Kindergarten - she has a wonderful teacher and a great classroom. She is thrilled that she gets to take her lunch but thinks "hot lunch" might be good to try too. She was so excited that they got to use the scooters in gym on Friday. Her biggest concern on Thursday (her 1st day) - where they would eat snack. I wish that were everyone's biggest concern! :D


I hope "back to school" has been good for everyone else too.

Book reviews

Yes, I've snuck in some reading lately - YEA!!!!!

16 Lighthouse Road
by Debbie Macomber

Another fantastic book by Ms. Macomber. Set in the Pacific Northwest. I LOVE the characters and such wonderful intertwining stories. This is the 1st in a series by her and I can't wait to read the rest!!!!!

Souvenir

by Therese Fowler

A wonderful story about life, loss and tragedy. I enjoyed the characters and writing style of Ms. Fowler. However - my disclosure on this one - have the tissues ready! I cried through probably the last 30 pages.

Artwork from amazon.com

'At least you have...'

(yeah - you know what's coming)
'...your health.'

I always thought that saying was so cliche'. BUT - after the year we've been having, let me tell you - there is a lot of truth in it. It's not been a great year for us but we are all healthy (knock on wood). Which is more than I can say for some people I know - sadly!!!! We haven't had to deal with cancer treatments or hospitalization for anything serious. In that way, we feel very blessed.

I hope you are all having a great week! The weekend is coming!
HUGS!

What?

So few doses of reality hit me over the weekend....

1. Those of us who ride our bikes casually for a few miles every week or two should probably NOT ride a 19 mile bike ride while pulling a 5 year old in a bike trailer behind us. My legs are KILLING me today!!!!!

2. Our DS is starting his junior year today. A junior!!!! How did I get to be a mom of a junior? As one of my co-workers said, "Are you ready for college visits?" Ah - NO!

3. Our DD is starting kindergarten on Thursday. I was TOTALLY ready for it until I talked to her teacher on Friday. Now I'm a little sad. She's very excited but oh man.....

So I guess it's time to suck it up and continue on....

J & M

This is my brother and future sister-in-law. One of the pictures I took of them about a month ago - no editing done to this...sorry!
They are planning their wedding for October, 2010! I'll post more of them in the coming weeks. :)

Harden, Harden!

Mr Rich Harden - the Cubs one shining star at the moment! Yes, they had some offense last night (finally!) but Harden again, pitched like a surgeon. Just this time, he had the offense to back him up.

Way to go, Rich!!!!

Dear Chicago Cubs,

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING??????!!!!!!!!!!!

You have looked TERRIBLE for the past month. I am about ready to come get my uniform and show you how it is done. Good grief!!!! I don't stay up late to watch west coast games to watch you LOSE!

PLEASE find whatever is wrong, fix it so we can carry on with a winning season!!!!!

Sincerely,
A VERY disappointed fan

Please explain (a rambling my Jen)

the OBSESSION with Facebook and Twitter. I don't get it!

I have a blog and that's all people really need to know, right? Is it too much that I think sharing every move of your day is too much information?

Sorry - I don't understand the obsession. If someone/anyone can explain it - I'd LOVE to hear it! :)

Tuesday

MOrning!

I hope you all had a good weekend. It was a good one here - too short, as always....

I got some reading done, a little scrapping and we went for one very wet bike ride. :) This coming weekend is our town's festival and the college students come back (I'll refrain from commenting on that right now).

Other than that, not much else going on. I'll try to catch up with some of my scrappings later.

Scrappings from last weekend

Sorry the lighting was crap for the rest of these shots....

I know....

I know - there are still no pictures of my scrapping from last weekend. I will do it - I SWEAR!!!!

Anyway, TGIF~
I hope you've had a good week and are looking forward to the weekend. Not much planned here - it sounds like it's going to be warm, so maybe a little craftiness. :)

Have a SUPER day and weekend!
Thanks for stopping by.

PS: Scrapping friends - there will be a new challenge up on Saturday at my scrapping blog -------> (challenge u 2) if you would like to "play" along.

What the hell happened????

I turned 35 - that's what happened!

I can't eat and not exercise the way I used to be able to. My metabolism is fighting back, as is my out of shape body. Pitiful.... I'd heard it happened but didn't really believe it. I believe it now! Now I'm being told, wait until 40. WHAT???!?!!?!?!?! Good god - what happens then?????

Random ramblings

Welcome to another episode of random ramblings....

*Race to Witch Mountain - not a stellar movie but it was ok. Duane Johnson - come on, he's "The Rock", always will be to me anyway.
17 Again - pretty funny and a little lesson in there about being careful what you do and reject while you are growing up.
*Anyone else find it ironic that David Hasselhoff is juding America's Got Talent? Eh, eh??? :D
*The Cubs....1st place after the All Star break to losing 4 in a row. Come on, guys!!!!!
*I got 6, yes 6 layouts done over the weekend. (photos to come)
*I added about 10 rows to the afghan I started over the weekend too.
*To my scrappy friends, if you are interested/willing to have a layout or card scraplifted, please let me know - I am running scraplift challenges on my other blog. ;) Thank you! ------>
*It's Wednesday - the week is 1/2 over - YAHOO!!!!

Have a super day! Thanks for stopping by!

Long time, no review

So here's a few books I've read since May that I enjoyed.

Must Love Dogs

by Claire Cook

I have read a couple of her other books and LOVE her characters. This is another good one! Sarah is looking for love through the personal ads. Her family is quirky and shows up at the most inopportune times - and her father's girlfriend....HILARIOUS! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Time of my Life

by Allison Winn Scotch

What if you could "re-do" your life? What if you had done thing differently in the past? Jillian is about to find out. Interesting concept and wonderful characters. Far fetched? A little but a fun summer read.

Coming Unglued

by Rebecca Seitz

The Sisters Ink girls are back for their second book. It's a scrapbooking filled story. I love these 4 and their lives together in small town Tennessee. I can't wait to read the next 2!

Paper Scissors Death

by Joanna Campbell Slan

A mystery with MANY scrapbooking and St. Louis references. I truly enjoyed it! Kiki is a great "girl power" character - bumbling at times but that's what makes her a little more real. Book 2 of Kiki's awaits....

Happy reading!

Artwork from amazon.com

What a week!

for our DS

He turned 16 on Monday. He's still getting his driving hours in with us and has about 8 more weeks of having his permit before he can get his licence. So by mid-October, he should be good to go! I'm still trying to figure out how this kid.....

became....this kid!

Thursday night, he received/earned his adult black belt in karate. However, DH & I did not know he would be getting it so we could be there for presentation, so - that's right - no pictures of that. I will try to get him to cooperate this weekend and get some of him with it on. We are VERY proud of him!

********************************

On another note - to my cheerleaders - I did finish a layout last night and started another.....

Sigh....

Motivation!
That's what I need!!!!!!!!!!

I want to scrapbook.
I want to start my quilt.
Have I?
NO!
Why?

You know the answer....
No motivation!!!!!

My goal this weekend is to get 2 scrapbook pages done (at least). Unreasonable? I think not!

I am hoping to have a "craftier" (is that a word?) August.

I need some cheerleaders.... :)

A little music....

Because I'm technology challenged this morning - here's a link to Rodney Atkins' "America". I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLqbV-lj-6k
Have a super weekend!

July recap - photos

4th of July weekend Sara Evans
An afternoon at Arlington

St. Louis

1st pitch of All Star Game

I wasn't angry, it's just a bad picture!

The kids "playing"

I'll post more game pictures soon.