Saturday--Day 2 --OPENING CEREMONY...

The opening ceremony took place at Walt Disney World Wide Sports...and it was really fun! Each team was announced and "paraded" around the stadium. Our girls had a great time!! It was one of those goosebump moments! They dressed alike in their cycylone shirts and had their hair braided. The moms had gotten together previously and made flip flops, so they wore those as well. It was really really cool!! Kensey Rae was all smiles!!

The girls brought pins that had CYCLONE Basketball-St. Joseph Missouri. They traded their pins with other teams. Kensey LOVED that part. She was being very social, as you might imagine!!

Day One of Florida

Day One

We headed out of KCI without any problems. Jill and Jo met us at the airport to see us off. Kensey Rae talked a mile a minute, which is nothing unusual except this time, it lasted much longer!! Another girl from our team flew out with us. Marnie and Kensey Rae talked all the way to Florida!!


Cody was eager to get the vacation started. He claimed he called window on the way down, I never heard him. So, I was a nice mother and let him have it anyway.





and we were off...

Florida Bound!

...and we are off!

We have way too much luggage. I tend to pack more than I need...like will we really need snowsuits in Florida kinda thing..if we are sick at all, I have the medicine, if we have stains, I have the tide stick, if we are wrinkled, I have the Downy spray...get the picture? :~)

I will keep you all posted while we are down there..please pray for safe travel!


Blessings,
Jen

I hate the thought of packing...

I am NOT a traveler.

I really love being home. I know that may come as a shock to those of you who know me, because I am rarely at home, or so it feels! However, I am ALWAYS home to sleep in my own bed. We are going to be gone for 10 days..TEN....how does one stay away from home for 10 days?

I have started writing out everything I need to take with me when we head south. I have started writing out what the kids need to take, and what Richard needs to take, and what we need to get ready for Jaxson Bo....and I have come to the conclusion that it will take about 20 suitcases. AT a rate of an extra $15.00 per bag for the first bag and a steady rate of $20.00 for the ones that follow, we should only have to pay about an extra $380.00 for luggage on the flight.

How does one pack for ten days? Good grief, what if you have to change your clothes several times a day? What if it is so hot you sweat and need a new shirt to put on, (or ketchup gets on your pants, not that I would know anything about this)...WHAT IF?

I hate being away from home.

I have always been that person who needs and desires to feel secure..safe and sound...whatever you want to call it. So I just have always loved being home.

Another problem....crowds.

Ok, I know I can talk to a brick wall, but I really don't like waiting in lines, or the dirtiness of public places. I cringe at the thought of public bathrooms at Walt Disney World...icky icky icky. I have watched way too many 20/20's that show WHAT the public bathroom, hotel rooms, and airplanes REALLY have on them....NASTY NASTY!

The other problem... I hate heat.

I just get plain grouchy when I am hot. I don't understand it, but I turn into this crazy person when I am hot. I hate it. Do you think it will be hot in Orlando in the middle of JULY?

All of this together equals one thing.. you must pray for my family, they need need need your prayers!

Luckily, we rented a condo, so we have laundry facilities there, so I can wash clothes if need be, I will take clorox wipes with me in my purse, and I will be drinking a lot of water and have a lot of pony tail holders.

The countdown to Florida--one week from tomorrow.

Blessings,
Jen

Responsibility.....and the lack thereof...

Kensey Rae and I went to eat at Nancy's house Monday night. Nancy, Becky,Ginger, Renee,Maralee and Andrea were all there with the whole clan...several girls within the age of 5 and under were bouncing ALL over the place and several of the "older" cousins were playing outside as well.

Kensey Rae had planned to go home with her Aunt Ginger and spend the night, so she had brought her cellphone along. I suppose that was a good thing. She has the phone so that I can get in touch with her NO MATTER what. Right?

Apparently sometime in the evening she lost the phone.

Richard and Cody stopped by to pick us up and as I was kissing Kensey Rae good bye, she whispered, "I can't find my phone".....of course, I, the calm, rational, and positive parent said, "Well, call it"...then..."Mom, I turned it on to vibrate only." This is where I started to lose it. "Kensey Rae, why on earth would you put it on vibrate only?" Kensey Rae answered, "because I don't like my ringtone and you won't let me buy a new one."

Now this is where somebody needs to take this child aside and explain to her that it is not her right that she have a phone at the age of 10!

I said, "Kensey Rae, WHO was going to call you anyway? Everyone who calls your phone is IN THIS STINKING HOUSE!"

That is when the tears started.

So, Richard and Cody start calling the phone. We listened for vibrating noises. No luck. A few minutes pass by and Andrea and Nancy enter the room. Then Ginger enters the room. We keep calling the phone and calling the phone. No luck.

We now start tearing apart all of Nancy's furniture.

At this time there is not a cushion on any of Nancy's furniture. The younger kids are screaming in Grace's room. The dogs are helping. My temper is starting to hit the danger zone. Kensey's face has developed the "red bumps from crying".....and still no phone.

Richard calls the phone again.

Andrea and I think we hear it, so we start flipping over furniture...in the meantime I find it completely ok to tell Kensey Rae that "this is the most ridiculous thing I have EVER heard of in my entire life!" I then start in with something like "I am so embarassed that my daughter isn't any more responsible than this"....I was tired, give me a break.

Anyway, I am not sure if Cody and Nancy went outside to escape my tantrum, or if they were searching for the phone. They keep calling the phone, we keep calling the phone, heck, the phone probably keeps calling itself. IT WAS CRAZY!

Richard keeps telling Andrea and myself that we are crazy and that we DID NOT hear the phone. Of course we argued that YES, we did hear the phone.

THEN...after a lot of time has passed...we hear...WE FOUND IT!

Apparently, Kensey Rae sat it on the window ledge OUTSIDE of the living room window by the swing.(SO YES RICHARD WE DID HEAR IT VIBRATE!!) AND of course, when Nancy found it...Kensey immediatly pipes up and says, "oh yeah, I remember setting it there" (is that where a day late and a dollar short phrase came from?

I just walked over to Kensey Rae and looked her in the eye and said, "this was very irresponsible, do you realize that? You need to keep track of your stuff, or I will keep track of it for you, do you understand me? Now, you need to thank Nancy and apologize to her as well for wrecking her house looking for that stupid phone...and if you ever lose it again, it's Mine. If you forget it somewhere, it's mine. Know where your stuff is, period. Are we clear?" Sigh. It was such a good Cindy line from my younger years. I had remembered it line for line. I was proud of myself.

So, after giving hugs and kisses Richard and I left, and Kensey Rae left with her Aunt and cousins.

I made it to the car.

That is when God decided to get down to my level and look me in the eye as I had just done with my daughter. I felt His precious hands on both sides of my face as he reminded me of something very important.

I left my purse inside that stupid house.

I quietly got out of the car. I walked slowly back into the house to find everybody wondering what I was doing back so soon. I walked slowly to my purse, took a big breath and said, "yes I forgot my stupid purse, and yes she gets it from me, and I am headed home." I closed the door and I was OUTTA THERE!

Responsibility....rolling eyes.....

Blessings,
Jen

Cody's Mom reporting in...

Where is the summer going? I DEMAND to know!

It is flying by and I am afraid that school starts NEXT MONTH! Double Ugh.

I need to know an answer to a question. I have pondered on this question for about a month, and I STILL do not know the answer! HOW IN THE WORLD AM I OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE A FRESHMAN?

I am too young, right?

Wasn't it just yesterday that I was at good ole SHS? Serioiusly. I feel like yesterday walking the halls with my 80's hair. (let me just remind you that my hair was the PERFECT 80's hair...big, CURLY, and did I mention BIG?)

Sigh.

Now, I have a son walking the halls.

Here's the thing....When I went to SHS, I was Jen Esely.....I had a name....people knew me....I walked into the weight room to get Cody last week...and the UNTHINKABLE happened to me.....I heard this..."Hey Cody's Mom....he's in the gym"...Cody's Mom? I am now just Cody's Mom.....no name...no idenity of my own...just Cody's Mom.

I am Mom, hear me roar.

So, in the meantime....Cody's Mom is running the roads with Cody and Kensey Rae....and I am smilin' about it...until I fill up my gas tank.

Blessings,
Jen

Kensey Rae with her teacher Mrs. Hines receiving the Rose Award

The ROSE AWARD is when a student receives all A's all four quarters of the school year!! Way to go Kensey Rae!!

Grace's Pre-School Graduation

so fun.....

Through my eyes....

The month of May has been BUSY....

My mother turned (whispering...56) this month! Can you believe it? She looks so amazing for being so.....young! :~) My sisters and I took her out to lunch and a little shopping! We had the best day! My Mom is one of those woman that I strive to be like. I am not sure how she did it all. She was a single Mom with four kids, a job, she helped take care of my Grandma, PTO President, Booster Club President, APE something or other, and a million other things. She handled everything with grace... well there was a few slammed cabinets in there......and she never lost her temper....from the hours of midnight to 5 a.m.....:~) There are several things about my Mom that will forever be etched in my brain....her lipstick..bright and so Mom like....her smile...nobody has a better smile....and her LAUGH....it is one of those distinct laughs that makes you laugh! Her way of making her home feel "comfortable" and "home".....Yep, I wanna be my Mom. I wanna be her without doing.....one day she called Jill on her way down to her house to watch the boys...Mom was turning on I29 and was explaining to Jill that she was running a little late....and said, oh dang it Jill, I left my cellphone sitting on the kitchen table... I am going to have to run home and get it....Jill interrupted her and said Mom, you are talking on it.......or when she is wearing her sunglasses at night or when she can't find her reading glasses and she puts on her sunglasses.....they are reading sunglasses but still....I love ya Mom!

Cody is officially a freshman. A freshman. WHEN did that happen? He represents to me that God is so good. We started our marriage out on a hill...a very steep hill. I was eighteen. Richard was twenty four. The only thing we knew was that we loved each other. I think at our wedding there were two people who thought we would make it...Richard and myself. When we had Cody, it was as though God gave me a second chance at life. All of my life I had been fairly selfish. I was all about me. When Cody came along, he changed me. I can remember sitting for hours upon hours staring into those little eyes thinking....praying.....crying....loving.... He and Richard became my world. God blessed me with this adorable boy and I was so undeserving. Cody represents God's grace to me. I have to brag on my son...he ended his 8th grade year with straight A's. This child in the history of his school career has never received anything but A's. He has received the Citizenship Award, the Model Student Award,the Rose Award, and The High Honor Roll for Life Award. Richard and I sit amazed at his accomplishments. Our baby will be driving in October with a permit, and to that I must say....stay out of his way! :~)

Kensey Rae is going to be a fifth grader. How did my BABY GIRL grow up to be a fifth grader? Wowzer! She has just enough spunk in her to make you smile, enough life in her to make you want to live your own, enough spirit that it glows around her, and she is just plain FUNNY! I spent last Friday with her. We went shopping, had a pedicure, went and found her new shoes...(she now has over 50 pairs of shoes) and had what Kensey Rae calls a "FAB GIRLS DAY"....I kept thinking as we were laughing at the outfits she would pick out..(mine was a fearful laugh).....how awesome it is to have a daughter. I have a daughter. I have this young lady who has enough confidence in herself to be anything she wants to be, enough beauty to get people's attention...and the brains to pull it off! Did I mention that she received the Rose Award and the High Honor Roll award? Yep, she had all A's this year (and every other year before that as well)

Richard is loving his new job! I am loving his new hours! He is the most deserving man I know. I don't know why or how I was so blessed to be his wife, but I thank God daily for him! (Except when he leaves his wet towel on the bed, dirty clothes in a pile and his tea glass on the coffee table) :~)

I am so Blessed. We don't understand how blessed we are. I received an email with quote on the signature line that read....When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around....which prompted this post. Think about your blessings and I guarantee you.....the other stuff just goes away....

Blessings,
Jen

Is it Friday yet?

IS IT??

I feel like this is one of the LONGEST weeks ever!

I think we are heading to Kansas this weekend to see Hailey and Hayden, Wyatt, Conner and Emma. It is also Wyatt's 11th birthday!!

Richard's new job is going great. He is learning how to operate a laptop....Pray for Larry....he is the guy who is responsible for helping him!! :~)

Cody is busy with finishing up his 8th grade year! He is actually on a field trip today to the NCAA Hall of Fame in Kansas City. He is lifting weights, playing golf, and playing basketball. His sense of humor is becoming more and more like Richard's--enough said on that. :~)

Kensey Rae is BUSY playing basketball and volleyball. She is my "goer" she is always ready and willing to head to the next event! She had her hair cut short last night and she LOVES it...I think it makes her look older, so the jury is still out!

I registered both kids for Church Camp this week. Cody is gone the first week in June and Kensey Rae is gone the last week in June. Cody will be going with our church and Kensey Rae is going with her cousin, Natasha, who is a member at Rosendale Christian. Kensey is so excited!! This will be her first camp!! She and Tash get along so well I can't wait to hear the stories!!

Blessings,
Jen

My ears are bleeding......

Mornin'

I flipped my lid this morning. I totally lost it. If I was in the race for the mother of the year, I blew it today.

RECORDERS

Does that word make you want to cry? Kensey Rae's music class at school is currently using recorders. I have to listen to songs like Hot Cross Buns....over and over and over and over and over.

Kensey Rae is currently learning to play the song It's raining It's pouring....I am pouring and raining tears. She was nerved up on Tuesday for music class and so opted to have a few more days to practice and take her test on Thursday morning. I have listened to It's Raining It's pouring so many times over the last few days that I am quite sure I am headed to the "HAPPY FARM".....

I can't take it.

This morning she was practicing and going over it and over it so many times that I thought I was going to lose my mind. However, I contained myself all morning while we were at home. I encouraged her. (I left the room)

Anyway, she wanted to practice on the way to school. I told Cody to not critique her, as he flunked that part of music in the fourth grade as well. :~)

We head to school early as in 7:15 walking out the door, so that Kensey Rae could take her test. She started playing the recorder in the car on the way to school. At first, it just rubbed my nerves the wrong way...but I handled it. As we drove by Shady Lawn Nursing Home...I wanted to jump out of the car and beg them to take me in.....by the time we hit the bridge, I was CRAZY. When we hit the city limits...that is when it happened. I snapped.

She is terrible.

I can't really remember what all I said, but I do know that there was spit flying out of my mouth. That is never a good sign. I remember that when my Mom had the spit flying and the white foam in the corners of her mouth when I was a kid, it was best just to not say anything....THAT is where I was. I started saying you are not playing that note right, can you not hear that? Can you not put your stupid fingers over those holes and make that thing not sound like a dying cow? Can you not do that? How can you practice for hours upon hours and still stink?? I need to know that.

This all coming from a person who has been asked by choir directors at church to NOT join the church choir and to kindly lip sing hymns in the congregation.

Then, Cody chimed in.

Kenz, it goes like this (he begins to sing) It's Rain..ing.......It's Pour...ing...... I just looked at him and said, "YOU NEED TO NOT GIVE HER ADVICE CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A DROP OF MUSICAL TALENT EITHER!"

That rant continued past Shop and Hop and past Chuck's Auto service...and right on into the Middle School Student drop off site.

Cody, almost sheepishly, leaned over kissed me good-bye and headed into school, but not without saying..."Kenz, good luck"

I started to feel really bad.

I said, "Kenz, try it again"....WHY did I say that so close to my meltdown? I was not ready to hear it again, I knew it. I had not been to therapy, I had not had a coffee. WHAT was I thinking??

She began to play.

I closed my eyes at the stop sign. I rubbed my forehead. I did try to help my stress levels. Then I did it again......I blew. "STOP STOP STOP....oh please STOP my ears are bleeding I cannot take it anymore...put it in your bag and zip it up for Pete's Sake!!"

We arrived at Minnie Cline.

I walked her into school. I felt bad. I saw our principal and said..."Must we put the parents through the torture of listening to those recorders??" Her reply--"my daughter has been practicing in my office" She looked like she had a headache. I felt her pain. We bonded.

I waited outside the music room for the verdict.

It was a long wait. I watched child after child arrive to take over their recorder test. Most of them entered with the fear in their eyes. I knew their fear. I am sure their parents had threatened them with "you had better pass that stupid song or you are grounded for eternity" I waited and waited.

I waited some more.

As the door opened for another student to take their place in the line. I heard it. I heard it loud and clear. The dying cow. Oh my goodness it was such a cow that was in pain-lots of pain.

Kensey Rae emerged.

I said, "Well??" That is when the worst news I could ever hear came out of that child's mouth. "She wants me to practice some more"

WHAT?

I just stared at her. With tears in my eyes, I said good bye and told her to have a nice day. I walked slowly back to my car. How does one deal with such bad news? I replayed the morning in my head. Then, as if in slow motion, somewhat like the kid in Sandlot who says F-O-R-E-V-E-R.....I heard Kensey say it all over again in my mind....She wants me to practice some more.

Gulp.

I called Richard and he was very disappointed in me. He told me I had fractured her self esteem. I hurt her. Blah Blah Blah......So I responded the only way I knew how to... I must know my limits. I am not the one that should listen to her practice. I am not the one who needs to critique her and encourage her....her dad does!

Richard has a new job!! :~)

Kensey Rae's teacher is so good with the kids and puts on the best music programs EVER!! I cannot imagine the headache she must have after listening to 500 cows die all in the same week. ((((((Mrs. DeLapp))))) that is a virutal hug!

So, tonight as the thunderstorms move in.....I will be in the basement, but Richard will be upstairs listening to his darling daughter play that stupid thing..and if a tornado happens to pop up...spare the house....just take the recorder.

I am off to find some advil....

Blessings,
Jen

Aunt Jen Jen....can you please....

So I had Jill's boys over the weekend, well only for one night, but I had ALL three of them. I am a Mom, I can handle anything and everything. WHAT is the big deal, Right? WRONG!! :)

Richard and I are suckers. There is no easy way to say it, but we are an easy target for these boys.

I almost feel sad for Jacob and Tyler. When they were young, they ran around with Cody, and I still very much had my "parent" hat on. So, the things they did were not funny, but probably should have been.....:~) I know we used to let Zachary rule the roost, of course that was before we had parent hats on.........and then with Ginger's kids (Wyatt, Conner, and Emma) they live so far away that we have short stays at Uncle Richard and Aunt Jen's house....and it is probably a good thing, because Emma somewhat has Uncle Richard wrapped around her finger.....and then bring on Hailey and Hayden.....I think secretly Uncle Richard knows that Hailey is the boss and therefore when she comes to town, she rules, and Aunt Jen knew it would be that way as soon as she saw the red hair........and Hayden has yet to experience Uncle Richard and Aunt Jen's house.. but I am guessing.....:~) And then there is Grace, our pseudo niece....well, she....wrapped us around her finger and tied the knot....WE have some pretty cute nieces and nephews.. if you didn't know.. just ask us!!

Anyway, back to my weekend.....I picked up the boys at McDonald's in St. Joseph from a very teary eyed sister who thought for sure that she was breaking some wonderful parent rule of sending them off for the night...WHATEVER...:~) On the way to Savannah....Kade is telling me something....like this..."Jen Jen.. Kam "something" me )($*)%*....WHAT? Aunt Jen Jen can't understand you...(this repeats about about 4 times)... Finally, Kam speaks up and says...Jen Jen, Kade is trying to tell you I called him stupid.....I nearly cracked up!

We stopped by to see Nanny at the courthouse to which Kam and Kade both thought it was hilarious to call everyone they saw...BOO_BOO....yes ...BOO BOO....they nearly laughed themselves to tears! Karson meanwhile was just smiling at everyone as the innocent child he is...:~)

We came home and it was so cold outside and drizzling.....but of course they wanted to go outside to the playhouse. Now, this is where an Aunt's perspective comes into play....We really shouldn't go outside, it is wet and cold... but they wanted to...so we loaded up with blankets and the rocking chairs from the house and headed to the playhouse....Jen Jen, Cody, Kensey Rae, and all three boys. We stayed out there for about an hour and a half when Uncle Richard arrived...so he joined us.. with Jaxson Bo. Yes, we have been suckered.. AGAIN.

I think we should all experience being an Aunt or Uncle before we are allowed to have children. It just takes the edge off. I think as parents we try to be so perfect and we feel like we have these expectations to meet...but as an Aunt and Uncle..anything goes... it is just FUN....you just take the time to play. If the house is a mess... it just means you had fun.....if the clothes are stained...it means the food was good and the grass was ripe for running.....if the face is dirty...it means you played hard all day.......


I told Richard if this is any indication as to what grandparent hood will be like....we are in trouble. Our kids will hang us from the highest ceiling and beat us like pinatas!

As the Aunt and Uncle we laugh at them when we should discipline....we let the borders of rules probably swell outside the line.....we let them eat ice cream for breakfast..(and make our kids eat oatmeal) :~).....we let them pick something up at Walmart at the checkout....we let them watch a movie over and over and over.....we let them take the cups into the living room and require our kids to stay in the kitchen.....I can't count the times we let Conner and Wyatt "relieve themselves" outside and made Cody go into the restroom or skip their vitamin that their Mom promised I would give them...Or let Emma eat cookies for breakfast..I told her not to tell her Mom......or let Zachary walk through the house after four wheelin' with mud all over him...and just cleaned it up myself cause we were so happy to have him there....poor Tyler and Jake.....they were sitting in the corner with Cody after running the four wheeler into the fence, jumping in the river with clothes on, having a water fight inside the house...would I think it was funny now??...Hailey and Grace rule but are still innocent enough that they are in the bedroom with Kensey Rae feeding their babies and finding purses to carry around while Kensey Rae does their hair and finds sparkly outfits for them to wear....and Hayden we can only imagine what he will talk us into...Kam, Kade and Karson....we won't mention to your Mom that you were jumping over the sofa this weekend...or that you watched three movies Friday night.....or that you had cookies before the pancakes were done...


Blessings,
Jen

Raining Blessings!!

Hello Friends and Family-

Last week was one of those weeks when you just can't give God enough glory. We had prayer after prayer answered, just simply amazing.

We went to Children's Mercy for Cody's visit. I was very nervous about this visit. Cody has always handled his GHD with a lot of dignity and never really complained. As of late, it has changed. He is tired of getting passed up. He is tired of giving himself a shot (for the last three years) to see minimal amount of progress in his eyes. He is tired of everybody growing, and him not. Praise the Lord.. he has grown 1.2 inches and gained 6 pounds in a little over 3 months. He is finally really responding to his meds!! He is not a hair under 5'3" and weighing in at 101 pounds. He will be 15 in October. God is good! (Of course He would have still been good even if he hadn't grown) :~) Prayer request #1 answered.

We were able to see our little guy Jaxon Burns at Mercy while we were there. HE IS SO STINKING CUTE!!! www.caringbridge.org/jaxonburns He has been moved to the Ronald McDonald house and will be going HOME in a week or so!! This little guy is 3 years old, has survived cancer, two liver transplants and has a sparkle in his eyes that is just amazing. So, prayer request #2 was answered!!

Our friends, The Thomsen's, have an amazing little boy named Per who has fought two kinds of cancers. He had scans that showed everything is STABLE!! AWESOME!! So, prayer request number 3 answered. Can you believe this??

On Wednesday, Richard called me at work and said that he had been having an eventful morning. Well, I just kept typing away, because Richard's eventful is....well... boring. :~) He was offered a Plant Manager position, that entitles him to a company car, laptop,cell phone,Less hours and a pay increase!! I was nearly knocked off my chair!! This man deserves this-- when I think of all the things he has missed out on, and NEVER complained to me. He is a worker. He is the guy who has always and forever put his family first. He has always put me first. When I think about how much he has sacrificed over the years to better his family's future, to give more than he received....well, it is overwhelming. (wipes a tear)

The kids and I met him that night on the way to AWANA and he was driving his company truck...we hooted and hollered in our car as we passed him...laying on the horn.. singing God is so good....it was awesome. I had picked Cody up from school and ran him to the golf course, so he called his Dad while he was golfing....Richard thought that was cute. I told Kensey Rae when she came home from character club and unknown to me, she went to her room and called him from her cell phone.

I traveled to Jefferson City last week as well. My position with Sunshine Factory is going to be changing. Our county is taking on Target Case Management for our clients. There is a lot of details and paperwork. I am up to the challenge, I just hope my brain follows! :~)

Have a great week!!

Blessings,
Jen

Happy Birthday Hailey!!!

We were unable to attend, but by the looks of it.....Hailey's 2nd birthday was a BIG hit!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAILEY!!!!

Sunday Sadness about March Madness

Kensey Rae lost her game today on a last second shot. The Cyclones had one of those games where nothing would fall...no matter how much skill behind the shot, no matter how open we were, no matter how tough the shot, NOTHING was going in. Kensey Rae played a great game and her defense was awesome, but in the end, we were one short. She has the next weekend off and then three straight weeks of Regional Tournament. We must qualify in the month of April to go to Orlando. Since we already bought our airplane tickets.....it would be nice to qualify.:~)

Cody is still traveling home from Branson. He is supposed to arrive in the next couple of hours. I wish I could tell you he had a great time, but my lovely 14 year old did not call home all weekend. (*&$#(*&@(*$#&(#$&&@$& :~) I called him yesterday and only talked exactly 32 seconds according to my phone...it was raining and he was getting ready to ride a roller coaster....and he was going to call me back. I hope that for his sake his phone broke or an alien picked him up and took him to Mars! :)I know my lovely son wouldn't forget to call his mother!!!

We spent the weekend with Jill and the boys. (Bryce arrived home from a baseball tournament last night)The boys were fun. We built train tracks, played basketball, and read lots of books.

Well, Kensey Rae and I are headed to Wal-Mart to buy supplies for her report.

Have a GREAT week!

Blessings,
Jen

Ginger's Family

I wanted to post a picture of Ginger's kids. Wyatt just went to the eye doctor to learn that he has to wear glasses...and I might say he looks quite handsome in his new pair! Don't let Emma Rae fool you with her "sweetness" in her picture, that girl is on a mission and KNOWS what she wants! :~) She is in total control, trust me, those boys are at her beck and call! :~) Conner is getting ready to celebrate his birthday in April. They are growing up so fast!!

Easter Sunday

If you only new what it took to get my nephews to all look at the camera. Jill and I were doing some sort of a side show behind the camera. Fun times.... Fun times.....

What is my Problem???????

Hello Friends and Family...

I am having such a ridiculous week!

Let me ramble..

We had a lovely day with family on Easter Sunday and I KNOW Mom was beaming when the entire row at church was full of all four of her kids with spouses and grandkids. She was smiling from ear to ear. I heard very little of the sermon as I was playing with Kam and Kade....I tried to keep them quiet, but they overtook me!

We had brunch at my house after church with Uncle Jim and family and then we had dinner with Uncle Tom and family in the afternoon. It was like a day long feast. I set out what portions I would eat for Easter and I did go over but only by two peanut butter eggs...I love those things...and apparently so does my nephew Kade...I found about 30 wrappers in my closet after they went home...(he is 2) Richard's Dad, Keith and his wife Nancy stopped in on their way back to Kansas. We hadn't seen them for quite a while, so that was fun!

Monday I stayed home with the kids who were on Spring Break. THANK GOD IN HEAVEN I don't stay home everyday I would weigh 500 pounds by Friday! What is my problem? Mom left her strawberry pie at my house..(and you know Mom can bake!) I am guessing that strawberry pie counts more than a fruit? Dang it all to pieces. I munched on Easter candy and a honey baked ham....

Tuesday.....do you think it is wrong to eat strawberry pie while watching the Biggest Loser? Geesh.. I felt guilty, but obviously not guilty enough...and I did have a couple of left over rolls too...I opted for no butter and only put grape jam on them...(rolling eyes)....and a peanut butter egg.....

Wednesday I woke up with the flu....(or strawberry pie overload or peanut butter egg overload)Anyway... I didn't eat all day except for some oatmeal...My Granny always said that oatmeal was a good thing to eat when your tummy is upset...I did stay away from the eggs...those evil peanut butter eggs....

Thursday-well....I ate an omelette this morning with eggs, spinach, and mushrooms...I felt healthy....only a minor headache leftover from yesterday...and then I nibbled on the whole wheat waffles that I made the kids...(does it count that they were whole wheat???) and then ate a piece of turkey bacon.. protein right? Geesh...I need to regain my control....I blame those darn peanut butter eggs from derailing my weight loss this week...I am up on the scale..and being controlled by Reeces peanut butter eggs!!

So... do you think it is ok to Pray to my Lord Jesus Christ to break the bondage of the strawberry pie..never mind it is gone......but there are STILL peanut butter eggs!!! (I actually did pray that!!) :~) I did a quick inventory of the eggs this morning....and wrote the number down....is that bondage or freedom?

Well, I must get busy..if you can't find me.. I am in the closet with Kade...and you know what....

Have a good one!

Blessings,
Jen

Holy Week.....

Good Morning Friends and Family!

We are in the midst of Holy Week. It is just amazing to think of all that transpired during this week. Last night at AWANA, my 3rd and 4th grade girls were asking all sorts of questions. I was basically at the beck and mercy of our Lord to help me answer some of their deep quesitons!! (you know when you scan the room at the other adults for some help and assistance to help answer!!!) There girls are smarties and I LOVE to listen to their minds spin on concepts that I KNOW the Spirit has planted deeply within them. So awesome!!

So one of the girls last night said, "I don't understand how they could call Good Friday.. Good...good for us I guess, but not good for Jesus" Yes indeed my dear one, Good for US! When I think how that man must have felt...nailed by his limbs, beaten to a bloody pulp.....taken the heat for what I would do....telling me he loved me enough to do it....asking one last time...Father if you can take this cup.. then take it.....Don't we all understand that feeling? I will do it God, but if there is any other way... DO THAT....With that, the earth shook, and it was done. I wonder what it would have been like to witness that.

It's almost Friday... but Sunday is coming.....Amen and Amen...

March Madness!

It seems unreal to believe that February 2008 is in the history books. We have experienced one of the worst winters in recent history. Northwest Missourians are sick of snow, ice, and cold temperatures. We are borderline mad, with a hint of depression! :)

We are in full swing of basketball with Kensey Rae. She is playing 2-3 tournaments per month. Cody is almost finished, THAT is a praise! We only have one kid playing there is no decision on who will go to what game! Cody is still lifting weights every M-W-F after school so he is still active, just not on the weekends!

Our nephew, Zachary, and his wife, Teresa, had their second child in February... Hayden Zachary was born a couple weeks early but completely full grown at 9 lbs! He is a cutie! Richard's sister, Tanya, went and played Grandma for a week, and his other sister, Ginger, has been updating us with photos almost daily.

Richard is working A LOT already, which means that summer will be a busy one! THAT is good in some ways, and not so great in others. He is already worn out. THAT is not good! :~)

I took on a new part time job, in addition to my full time job. I am the new 911 Coordinator for the county. It is going to be somewhat challenging, which I love. I will train for the better part of this year and then maybe on my own in 2009. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to make some extra money that we will be putting towards medical bills for our son who seems to always have some "rare" thing occur!

Speaking of which.. Cody was back in the hospital in February for what appeared to be an appendix issue, only to find after CT scan and blood work, that he had some weird virus. (I told you!) He is still seems to be responding to his growth hormone, although it is a very slow progress. We head back to Children's Mercy this month, so we will see where we are at.

Kensey Rae had 3 inches cut off of her hair this week. She looks adorable, although somewhat grown up too. Bittersweet. She is such a crack up. I need to update a photo of her!

I am participating in a Bible Study at Church by Beth Moore called Stepping Up! I highly recommend this study! I LOVE it!! Which reminds me.. I need to get back to work, I have study tonight and I am not done with my lesson.

Hope all is well--

God's Blessings,
Jen